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Page 38 October 2015 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
by James Rada, Jr.
1909 — Emmitsburg’s Third Great Fire
Emmitsburg has a long history of Company, who were doing “grand
both fires and fire protection. The work, but their efforts were of
Great Emmitsburg Fire of 1863 is course unequal to the requirements,”
considered the most serious fire in according to The Frederick Daily
the town’s history. By the time the News. Someone telegraphed for
flames sputtered out, twenty-eight the help of fire companies from
houses and nine businesses had Frederick and Hagerstown. At the
been damaged or destroyed. Three time, St. Joseph’s College was valued
of the four corners of the town at $1 million and the total damage
square were black with fire, and calculated at about $60,000.
three of the towns four blocks were What could be considered
fire damaged. Other reports put the Emmitsburg’s third most-serious
number of damaged buildings at fire happened in December 1909,
fifty, and half of the town destroyed. just days before Christmas. Shortly
In actuality, probably about a before noon, the roof of the Rowe
quarter of the town burned, based property caught fire, which at the
on a population of slightly less than time was occupied by the Home
1,000. Bakery, Harry Hopp, and Mr. Peters.
Firefighting efforts improved in “The alarm was sounded, but
1884, when water from the town’s by the time a stream of water could
newly built reservoir was piped be made to play on the burning
under the street to fire hydrants. roof, the adjoining properties,
This provided a more-dependable the Reformed Church parsonage
supply of water to the engines. and the house occupied by Mrs.
When the reservoir was dug Virginia Gillelan were ablaze,” The
and the water lines put in, The Gettysburg Times reported.
Emmitsburg Chronicle reported, Vigilant Hose Company
“When it is considered that the combated the fire, but “A high wind
reservoir is located 224 feet above aided the flames, and for a time it
the level of the square, any person was thought that nothing could be
can estimate the advantages that done to save the Rowe property,
must accrue to the village when the although every effort was being
improvement is completed. With made in that direction.”
proper hose at hand, it will scarce be Lulu Patterson then discovered
possible for any great fire to occur that the Motter building occupied
here, and this security lessening the by Motter and Ruth Gillelan’s store
risks, must diminish the rates of was on fire. This split the efforts of
insurance, and we trust that in due the fire company as they now battled
time the water power will be availed two fires. If that wasn’t enough, it
of for manufacturing purposes.” was then discovered that the homes
Unfortunately, this did not prove of H.W. Eyster and George T. Eyster
to be true, because Emmitsburg had were also on fire.
its second great fire the following The firefighters didn’t give up,
year. though.
Fire broke out in St. Joseph’s “Inside of an hour, the flames had
College just before noon on March been overcome and Emmitsburg,
20, 1885, and quickly spread. at least part of it, was saved,” The
Fighting fires in the large college Gettysburg Times reported.
buildings was too much for the In all, ten buildings were lost or
firefighters with Vigilant Hose damaged in the blaze.
Take Us Along!
Take The Catoctin Banner newspaper along with you on your travels!
Have someone take a photo of you holding The Catoctin Banner, and
your photo could be included in our next issue. Email your photo, along
with the details of where you traveled, name(s) of person(s) pictured,
and any details you would like to add to [email protected].
by James Rada, Jr.
1909 — Emmitsburg’s Third Great Fire
Emmitsburg has a long history of Company, who were doing “grand
both fires and fire protection. The work, but their efforts were of
Great Emmitsburg Fire of 1863 is course unequal to the requirements,”
considered the most serious fire in according to The Frederick Daily
the town’s history. By the time the News. Someone telegraphed for
flames sputtered out, twenty-eight the help of fire companies from
houses and nine businesses had Frederick and Hagerstown. At the
been damaged or destroyed. Three time, St. Joseph’s College was valued
of the four corners of the town at $1 million and the total damage
square were black with fire, and calculated at about $60,000.
three of the towns four blocks were What could be considered
fire damaged. Other reports put the Emmitsburg’s third most-serious
number of damaged buildings at fire happened in December 1909,
fifty, and half of the town destroyed. just days before Christmas. Shortly
In actuality, probably about a before noon, the roof of the Rowe
quarter of the town burned, based property caught fire, which at the
on a population of slightly less than time was occupied by the Home
1,000. Bakery, Harry Hopp, and Mr. Peters.
Firefighting efforts improved in “The alarm was sounded, but
1884, when water from the town’s by the time a stream of water could
newly built reservoir was piped be made to play on the burning
under the street to fire hydrants. roof, the adjoining properties,
This provided a more-dependable the Reformed Church parsonage
supply of water to the engines. and the house occupied by Mrs.
When the reservoir was dug Virginia Gillelan were ablaze,” The
and the water lines put in, The Gettysburg Times reported.
Emmitsburg Chronicle reported, Vigilant Hose Company
“When it is considered that the combated the fire, but “A high wind
reservoir is located 224 feet above aided the flames, and for a time it
the level of the square, any person was thought that nothing could be
can estimate the advantages that done to save the Rowe property,
must accrue to the village when the although every effort was being
improvement is completed. With made in that direction.”
proper hose at hand, it will scarce be Lulu Patterson then discovered
possible for any great fire to occur that the Motter building occupied
here, and this security lessening the by Motter and Ruth Gillelan’s store
risks, must diminish the rates of was on fire. This split the efforts of
insurance, and we trust that in due the fire company as they now battled
time the water power will be availed two fires. If that wasn’t enough, it
of for manufacturing purposes.” was then discovered that the homes
Unfortunately, this did not prove of H.W. Eyster and George T. Eyster
to be true, because Emmitsburg had were also on fire.
its second great fire the following The firefighters didn’t give up,
year. though.
Fire broke out in St. Joseph’s “Inside of an hour, the flames had
College just before noon on March been overcome and Emmitsburg,
20, 1885, and quickly spread. at least part of it, was saved,” The
Fighting fires in the large college Gettysburg Times reported.
buildings was too much for the In all, ten buildings were lost or
firefighters with Vigilant Hose damaged in the blaze.
Take Us Along!
Take The Catoctin Banner newspaper along with you on your travels!
Have someone take a photo of you holding The Catoctin Banner, and
your photo could be included in our next issue. Email your photo, along
with the details of where you traveled, name(s) of person(s) pictured,
and any details you would like to add to [email protected].
