Oregon Beat
www.oglecountynews.com
Oregon Republican Reporter, Thursday, May 1, 2014, Page A3
Firemen, water works praised after fire of 1893 Editor’s note: Otto Dick, Oregon, has researched the people, places, and events important in Oregon’s history for the Ogle County Historical Society. The following is part of a series of the articles he has written. By Otto Dick This is from the Ogle County Reporter, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 1893. Remember this is before Ogle County had cars. The best way to go to Polo, Forreston, and Rochelle was This old fire hose cart is located at the Mt. Morris Fire by rail. Station. Photo by Otto Dick
Fire! Fire! Fire! Oregon saved by her magnificent Water Works and her Brave Firemen. It was a grand, a noble fight between fire and water. The fire king did his worst, but the Oregon water sprite captured him. “Today we look upon a waste to the west of “The Reporter” office, just across the street — it is the opening created by the most furious (though not so expensive) fire that has occurred in this part of Illinois. “But there are many happy people in Oregon today, for had it not been for our brave boys the town today would have been a smoldering ruin. Everything dried and seared, all as a tinder, and the least spark is apt to create a mighty conflagration. “At about 1:15 p.m. Monday, John Phelps called the attention of the writer to a sudden light in the north window of John P. Wilson’s agricultural implement depot, where a quantity of machine oil had been stored. “We immediately turned in a fire-alarm which was responded to promptly. S.H. Roat and W.S. Myers pulling the first hose cart out, while John Phelps went across the street to break the door of
the agricultural storage, and from which implements and carriages were rescued. “The fire department came promptly and soon every available stream of water was at play, aided by the both the force from the reservoir and the city engine combined. “Col.” Thomas Jakeman running to the engine house and giving the pump its fullest capacity. “Wonderful as it may seem, the fire though in a nest of frame buildings, with two livery stables, a saloon and a blacksmith shop on the opposite side of the block, fronting Fourth Street, and F.R. Artz barn backing up to within twenty and thirty feet of the flames, yet none of those buildings burned. “On Third Street, a one story frame occupied by John Peterson Wilson, agricultural implements, etc., and a large two story building of Mrs. Luther Stroh, used for storage were destroyed. “Squire William Artz house was fired, and gutted but so well watered, that it was saved, though on the south of all the mass of tinder. “The boys cut holes in the roof of the brick part and tore the tin roof from the frame annex, but saved the whole thing except the windows on the north. “The heat was so intense at the start that ‘The Reporter’ windows cracked and the front of the hose room and John Johnston’s building were smoking and blistered,
but Pike Dernier and J.W. Johnston with “The Reporter” hose and buckets of water kept the structure well drenched with water, and through this precaution saved ‘The Reporter’ building. “Another alarm was given about three o’clock and it was found that Thomas Riley’s barn, the last building in town, and a half-mile southwest of the first fire, was burning. “The discovery was made too late to save anything, and a horse, harness, hay and feed belonging to Moses Bissell were burned with the building. “It is thought this fire was caught by a cinder from the conflagration down town. “Ivan Peronet, the artist, was one of the heroes who made his work tell. He is a born fireman, and can fight a fire as well as he can paint one. “Of the casualties. Peter Kelchner was hit over the eye with a pail thrown him. Eddie Kelley was knocked from the roof of Goings’ barn by a volley from a hose, which hit him in the posterior and a hose nozzle “snaked” around and hit Fred Roat side of the head. “The firemen fought the flames like heroes. They were aided and abetted by many willing hands. “Polo, Forreston, and Rochelle were all ready to assist us, some of them having their apparatus on the railroad cars when notified that they would not be needed.”
The Reporter office was located north of city hall. Photo by Otto Dick
City Hall was located north of the present hall on N. Third Street. A fire hose cart was located in the north end of this building. City Hall was above and Denier’s broom shop located in the lower level on the south side. Photo supplied by Otto Dick
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Deneer’s broom shop was located in the lower level on the south side of the same building that housed the City Hall. Photo supplied by Otto Dick
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