FIRES
ADAMS Heading Factory – destroyed by fire
Source: Crawfordsville Star 5 Jan 1888 p 8
BAINBRIDGE - Standard Oil Company -- NEW 12-24-2023
Source: Greencastle Daily Banner 2 March 1967 p 1
Fire leveled the Standard Oil Company bulk plant building in Bainbridge last night as firemen from nine towns including Greencastle, Roachdale, Fillmore and Coatesville fought for two hours to protect four 15,000 gallon oil storage tanks nearby. There were no injuries reported. Witnesses said they saw an explosion about 6:30 p.m. and saw the plant manager, Jesse Tillotson run to summon help. A state police trooper said he saw the flames shoot skyward from 4 ½ miles away. Residents nearby had to flee their homes because of the intense heat, firemen said. Bainbridge Fire Chief Charles Evans said the four stage tanks were saved only because the wind was fanning the flames away from them. The one-story concrete building contained several drums filled with solvents which kept exploding until the blaze was brought under control. There was no estimate of damage. The cause of the fire was not learned.
BRATTIN Saw Mill
Source: Greencastle Star-Democrat 23 Oct 1908 p 1
The residence of Mr. Chas. Frakes, near Brick Chapel, was damaged considerably by fire, a few days ago but by active exertions of those present the fire was put out before it was everlastingly too late.
The saw mill belonging to Eli Brattin and located about 7 miles west of town was totally destroyed by fire Friday night at near midnight. The cause of the fire is unknown. Much lumber, together with the mill was destroyed. The loss will reach several hundred dollars.
BURTON
Source: Greencastle Star 26 Nov 1881 p 1
Last Tuesday night about 8 o’clock, the residence of James Burton on Fox Ridge, was entirely destroyed by fire, the flames originating from a defective flue. Loss: $500; partially insured.
COMMERCIAL HOTEL
Source: Daily Banner-Times 20 Jan 1894 p 2
The fire alarm at 1 o’clock this morning was a central one, the old style, and was caused by a smart little blaze in the rear buildings of the Commercial Hotel. Situated just east of the brick kitchen on the alley in the rear is an old frame building, one story. It had been used at diverse times for sleeping apartments and contained two beds and other old furniture. It is supposed that an incendiary threw a match in one of these beds. Clerk Young gave it as his opinion this morning that bums had enjoyed the hospitality of the rooms for some time as there were no locks on the doors. It is also hinted that some of the colored boys would coax 7-11 in the room during the stilly hours of the night. Be all this true or false there was a fire there last night all right and it caused great commotion for awhile. Night Clerk Murphy sent a human alarm to fire headquarters and by the time he had aroused the chief clerk the fire boys were throwing water. They made a splendid race, putting out two lines: the first from the corner of Indiana and Walnut, second from Jackson & Poplar. The fire was quickly under control but little damage being done, although the flames were bursting through the roof and sides of the shell. A stiff wind was blowing, adding to the danger. A strong pressure of water and good, strong hose in the hands of skillful firemen again proved too much for the fire bug, however. The hotel guests were considerably alarmed until they located the fire, then returned to their rooms.
FRAKES
Source: Greencastle Star 26 Nov 1881 p1
The residence of Mr. Chas. Frakes, near Brick Chapel, was damaged considerably by fire, a few days ago but by active exertions of those present the fire was put out before it was everlastingly too late.
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Source: Greencastle Star-Democrat 23 Oct 1908 p1
Fire which started Monday afternoon from burning trash on the farm of Charley Frakes, two miles west of Brick Chapel, burned over twenty acres of land, destroying nine hay stacks and much fencing. The fire burned all night and was still burning this morning. The loss will reach into the hundreds of dollars. For a time a large corn field was threatened. Virtually every man in the neighborhood turned out to fight the blaze and by hard efforts managed to save the field. J. F. Crisk the tenent on the farm was burning burrs on the farm yesterday afternoon when the fire got a start on him. This occurred near 3:30 o'clock. The fire spread over the meadow rapidly and soon the hay stacks began to go. Help was summoned and an effort made to stop the blaze, but it had gained such headway that there was little use. Fencing went in a hurry and soon the flames began to threaten a corn field. Virtually every man in the neighborhood was at the scene by this time and all effort was directed toward saving the corn. Finally after much effort the field was saved. The fire burned all night and was still burning this morning. A large number of the farmers watched the fire all night. The fire caused the air to be filled with smoke. The loss will reach fur up into the hundreds of dollars.
HIBBITT Saddles
Source: Greencastle Star Press, 9 Jan 1892 p 1
A blaze in the saddle and harness establishment of Mr. Hibbitt, Friday morning called out the department and the flames were quenched in short order. The stock was damaged to the extent of several hundred dollars by the deluge of water thrown into the building and the insurance will about cover the loss. The fire originated from a defective flue. Mr. Hibbit has removed his stock to the Grubb building opposite the Star-Press office and is ready for business. The loss of Messrs. Blake and Renick on the building is about $600 fully covered by insurance.
HURST
Source: Greencastle Banner and Times, Putnam County, Indiana 14 Jan 1892 p 5
Elem McCrary - Brick Chapel - 1893
LEVI - Fire Horse dies - 1912
The home of Mrs. Mary Hurst on Mt. Meridian Road three and one half miles southeast of Greencastle was burned on Thursday morning last. The fire caught accidentally and as there was no help at hand the residence and outhouses were all destroyed. Some of the furniture and contents were saved but the greater portion was lost. The loss is estimated at about $2,000 with an insurance of over $900 in the Ohio Farmers.
Source: Indianapolis Journal 20 Feb 1893 p 2 (Mon)
Greencastle, Ind – The dwelling of Flem McCrary near Brick Chapel burned tonight with nearly all its contents. The wife of Ellsbury O’Hair in running to the fire fell upon the ice and broke her leg.
Large Greencastle Fire - 1903
Source: Greencastle Banner 16 Jan 1903 p 2
The big barn on David Gordon’s farm in Franklin Township was burned Thursday night from an unknown cause. Mr. Gordon places his loss at $600 and there was no insurance.
Source: Greencastle Banner 16 Jan 1903 p 8
At two o’clock a m. Saturday the two-story frame building owned by C. A. Knight and George Aker, at Reelsville, and used by these two gentlemen in their drug business and by Mr. Knight as the Reelsville postoffice, was burned to the ground and the contents were also destroyed. With the drug store was burned a smaller frame building owned by Mrs. Emma Baumunk, which adjoined the drug store on the vest. The drug store building was insured for one thousand dollars and the contents for the same sum. The loss was estimated by the owners as about $3,500. Mrs. Baumunk placed her loss at $160 with no insurance. The fire was not found until it was too late to save anything, but the energetic Reelsville men succeeded, after hard work, in saving the two-story residence of Ed Hullman, which was a short distance west of the Baumunk building. It was badly scorched but did not begin to burn. The Foster store across the Vandalia railroad, to the north, was also scorched and one of the big front windows was broken by the heat.
Source: Greencastle Banner 16 Jan 1903 p 1
Fire was discovered at 7 o’clock a.m. Saturday in Cook’s grocery at the corner of Hanna Street and College Avenue and the damage done was considerable. The flames started from a flue and before the firemen got control the entire top of the building was burned off. The grocery stock owned by George Cook was damaged and is exposed to the cold weather, much of it being liable to freeze. He will move the stock to another room until his room can be repaired. Mr. Cook carried $600 insurance and the building which is owned by Chas. Lueteke’s family was also insured. The firemen experienced some difficulty in getting water started. Mr. Merryweather states the plug at College Avenue and Hanna was frozen and it required some time and the strength of several men to get it turned on. Two extra lines were laid from Chestnut street and Indiana street, the plugs at those corners being all right.
Source: Greencastle Banner 16 Jan 1903 p 3
The entire Kappa Kappa Gamma fraternity, over thirty young ladies, abandoned their chapter house at the corner of College avenue and Seminary street Saturday evening and stood in the snow watching the smoke pour up the north wall of their fraternity home. Some of the young women had their arms full of dresses and other things snatched from their rooms and most of them were in party attire and were altogether unprotected from the cold. The fire was discovered about eight o’clock, at a point in the north wall of the house where the furnace chimney is built.
A brick had fallen out, it is said, and there was no protection between the sheeting and the fire. The ignition occurred at the bottom of the wall and the flames were working up inside the sheeting when the fire department arrived. It was a good start for a bad fire but was soon extinguished, after holes were chopped in the weatherboarding. More than one young man expressed his disappointment at the sudden termination of the excitement saying he had picture himself making heroic rescues of fainting ladies and thus proving the depth of his love. However, the only men who received credit were the fire ladies and they did good work. The firemen reached the house so quickly that they were there before the majority of the inmates of the home knew of the fire. The men rushed upstairs and broke in to the most sacred portion of the whole house, the room wherein the tragedies of the initiation are enacted. One of the firemen now claims to be a Kappa for he says just as he entered the room the oath was being administered to an initiate and he made the response for her, thus subscribing to all the requirements, he claims.
JONES - J.J. - farm fire
Source: Greencastle Star-Democrat 23 Oct 1908 p1
Fire which started Monday afternoon in the rear of the farm of JJ Janes, just west of town destroyed several yards of fencing and burned over several acres of pasture. The origin of the fire is unknown. That night after it was believed that the fire had been extinguished, the win fanned up another blaze but it was killed out before it did any great damage.
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Source: Greencastle Star-Democrat 23 Oct 1908 p3
“Tarbutton Branch” – A tenant house on Jesse Jones’ farm burn on last Wednesday morning. It was occupied by Wm. A. Cowger who lost the most of his household goods and had no insurance on them. Mr. Jones’ loss is partially covered by insurance. A paper is being circulated to secure donations for Mr. Cowger as he is an honest and industrious young man with a wife and three children, who are left destitute by the fire.
Note: Tarbutton proper is a creek near Big Walnut – Twp 15 North
LADY'S underskirt
Source: Greencastle Banner, 1 Dec 1858 p2
A destructive fire took place at Greencastle, Tuesday Nov 23d. Some ladies first gave the alarm of fire; much confusion and difficulty followed to ascertain its precise locality. The building was at length discovered from which smoke was issuing and the smell of fire was also very perceptible. Still the burning spot remained concealed, amid the greatest possible confusion. Consternation prevailed among the ladies. At length, as the fire increased, and was just ready to burst to a flame, the smoke was ascertained to be issuing from beneath the enormous skirts of one of the ladies who had been first to give the alarm of fire. The fire had taken hold of the cotton padding of an enormous underskirt and had well night consumed it; yet, from the enormous size of the hoops by which it was distended, the lady was unharmed and even unwarmed. A few buckets of water put an end to the fire and the only loss was the garment, not the least damage having been sustained by the person of the lady.
A destructive fire took place at Greencastle, Tuesday Nov 23d. Some ladies first gave the alarm of fire; much confusion and difficulty followed to ascertain its precise locality. The building was at length discovered from which smoke was issuing and the smell of fire was also very perceptible. Still the burning spot remained concealed, amid the greatest possible confusion. Consternation prevailed among the ladies. At length, as the fire increased, and was just ready to burst to a flame, the smoke was ascertained to be issuing from beneath the enormous skirts of one of the ladies who had been first to give the alarm of fire. The fire had taken hold of the cotton padding of an enormous underskirt and had well night consumed it; yet, from the enormous size of the hoops by which it was distended, the lady was unharmed and even unwarmed. A few buckets of water put an end to the fire and the only loss was the garment, not the least damage having been sustained by the person of the lady.
Source: Greencastle Star-Democrat, 5 Jan 1912 p 6
The funeral services of Old Levi, the faithful old fire horse were held at 11 o’clock Friday morning and the remains were taken to Putnamville for burial. In token of the esteem for the old animal the fire bell was rung 27 times, one ring in honor of each year of the horse’s life. Levi was purchased by the city in 1890 and was six years old at that time. For 16 years he was on the fire department and later was used on the streets. He was sold about two years ago. His death occurred Wednesday.
MARION TWP Schoool
Source: Greencastle Herald 27 Feb 1922 p 1
A one-room school house, known as the Marion Township Cross Roads School about 4 miles east of Greencastle on the Washington Street Pike was burned to the ground on Sunday night. The fire, which is believed to have started from an overhead stove was discovered at near midnight. E. Frost Hurst and Miss Cleo McCoy were the teachers in the school. The school was attended by 32 pupils. Virtually all of the books of the pupils and teachers were destroyed in the fire. The building which was erected about 10 years ago was divided by a temporary partition so that the pupils could be divided and two teachers were employed. Only grade pupils attended the school. Ray Ikamire, the janitor built a fire in the stove in the school house late Sunday afternoon and it is believed that the stove became overheated or that burning fuel fell out of the stove door and started the conflagration. Willis D. Wright, trustee of Marion Township, stated that the building was insured. As yet he has not announced what disposition will be made of the pupils who attended the school. It is probably that arrangements for them to complete their school year work will be made within a few days.
A one-room school house, known as the Marion Township Cross Roads School about 4 miles east of Greencastle on the Washington Street Pike was burned to the ground on Sunday night. The fire, which is believed to have started from an overhead stove was discovered at near midnight. E. Frost Hurst and Miss Cleo McCoy were the teachers in the school. The school was attended by 32 pupils. Virtually all of the books of the pupils and teachers were destroyed in the fire. The building which was erected about 10 years ago was divided by a temporary partition so that the pupils could be divided and two teachers were employed. Only grade pupils attended the school. Ray Ikamire, the janitor built a fire in the stove in the school house late Sunday afternoon and it is believed that the stove became overheated or that burning fuel fell out of the stove door and started the conflagration. Willis D. Wright, trustee of Marion Township, stated that the building was insured. As yet he has not announced what disposition will be made of the pupils who attended the school. It is probably that arrangements for them to complete their school year work will be made within a few days.
MURPHY
Source: Greencastle Banner and Times, Putnam County, Indiana 14 Jan 1892 p 5
Aut Murphy’s old house, occupied by J. Buis, was on fire last Wednesday night and about one half of the roof burned on the south side. The damage was slight but will necessitate a new roof. The household goods were slightly damaged by water and the whole structure narrowly escaped destruction.
ORPHANS HOME
Source: Greencastle Herald 9 Feb 1922 p 1
Six of the little girls who lived in the Greencastle Orphans Home, which burned on Tuesday evening, together with Mrs. Shirley, matron of the home, are now quartered at the Crawford Hotel where Mrs. Shirley will look after them until a more permanent plan of caring for the 21 children who were made homeless by the fire is adopted. The six smallest girls and the matron were placed in the hotel by the board of trustees of the institution so that Mrs. Shirley might give them her personal attention. The children, who were quartered at the Theta House and Phi Gam House as an emergency move were taken from the fraternity and sorority house Wednesday following the meeting of the board of trustees. The members of the board expressed themselves as being very grateful to the sorority and fraternity for caring for the children. The 15 other children were taken to private homes Wednesday where they will be cared for until a more permanent plan for caring for them can be arranged. The board is now engaged in attempting to find a house large enough to accommodate the children until a new Orphan’s Home can be builded (sic). The scarcity of large houses which are available is causing the board members quite a bit of worry. It was hoped the Catholic school might be secured but Dr. W R Hutcheson who will rebuild his home this summer has rented the school building during the time the rebuilding is in progress, so it is not available. Thursday was devoted by Board members in seeking a location. It is hoped that a house, large enough to accommodate the children can be secured soon. No action regarding the rebuilding of the home was taken Wednesday and probably no action will be taken until better arrangements for the caring for the children are perfected.
PUTNAM COUNTY INFIRMARY - Poor Farm
Source: Crawfordsville Star 5-29-1879 p 2
The county infirmary at Greencastle was burned the other night. It contained 53 inmates but all escaped except two insane men who were burned to death. The loss is about $10,000 with no insurance. It is the third time the institution has been destroyed by fire in 20 years.
THOMAS
Source: Greencastle Banner & Times 17 Oct 1895 p 3
Hiram Thomas’ barn one mile west of Morton burned on Tuesday night. The loss is about $700 with $500 insurance in the Ohio Farmers, distributed on barn and contents.
WAGONER
Source: Greencastle Banner, 1 Dec 1858 p 1
The dwelling house of Isaac Wagoner, in the eastern part of Greencastle caught fire about 8 o’clock on Friday night last and was considerably damaged before the flames were stayed. But little of the furniture was really burnt, but much of it was greatly damaged by rough handling and the effects of water and smoke. The house was not so badly injured as to prevent the family from occupying it. The fire originated, we learn in a portion of the house occupied by students, who, putting wood upon the stove for the purpose of drying, went off and left it, when it caught fire and fell to the floor. Heretofore one or two other houses have been set on fire in this way.