By Lisa Hawk
In June of 1890, the town had a very serious fire in the buildings located on the south side of Locust Street, between 5th and 6th Street. A bucket brigade formed and worked hard to save the town from burning to the ground.
The fire started minutes before 11:00pm. The alarm of “FIRE! FIRE!” Was heard on all the streets of Middletown. Flames could be seen leaping in the center of town. The streets soon lined with people who were running to the scene .
The fire was found to have started on the Cox & Mowery’s meat market. This business was located in a small frame building on the west side of the Van Cleave Building.
When the fire was first discovered, the building was a mass of flames. These flames spread to another frame building occupied by GEJennings and Sons shoe shop. This building ended up being a total loss. The Fire Volunteers decided to concentrate their goal on protecting the adjoining two story buildings from destruction.
The force of these volunteer workers were divided into sections, one working on saving the Hedrick’s building, and the other working on the Showalter building. The heat from the building buildings was intense and the men worked at great risk and disadvantage.
The fire consumed the stairway leading to Hedrick’s Hall, and the cornice above was in flames and smoke was raising from the building in volumes from the iron roof when it was cut open.
Great amounts of water were carried by workers voluntarily working to quench the fire. These men volunteers were able to prevent the rest of the town from being destroyed.
Several people were hurt, there was one death, one man was badly burned, several had injuries from smoke and one person trampled by a horse trying to cut through the crowd.
The people were reminded again of the need for fire protection, and when the water works was built, they finally formed a force that we still have in operation today.
References
Memories, Dreams and Reflections of Middletown, 1975.
Beacon.com. Henry County Property Owners
Photos from Middletown Fall Creek Township Historical Society collections.
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