Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1889 — RAVAGED BY FLAMES. [ARTICLE]

RAVAGED BY FLAMES.

A LARGE PART OF GRAND HAVEN, MICH., DESTROYED. Flames Break Out During a Brisk Galo and Soon Get BeyoAd the Control of the Fire Department Forty-one Buildings Burned at a Loss of 8500,000. Fire started in the center of the business portion of Grand Haven, Mich., and before it could be extinguished had swept through half the city. A fierce wind was blowing from the lake and the flames got beyond the control of the firemen shortly after the fire started. Among the buildings burned are the following; The Cutler house and the residence of Dwight Cutler <*nd the residences of Mrs. Slayton, T. A. Parris, G. D. Sanford, Capt. McCullom and A. 8. Kedzie. The First Reformed, Unitarian and Methodist churches were burned, together with about thirty residences. No lives were lost. The sweep of the fire included both sides of Main street from Slayton’s grocery, where the fire originated, to the Akeley institute. Everything in the path of the flames was wiped out. The total loss is about $500,000, 41 buildings in all being destroyed. Grand Haven is the county seat of Ottawa county and is situated on Lake Michigan, at the mouth of Grand river. It has a population of some 6,000 people. Two railroads eater the place—the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee and the Chicago & West Michigan—occupying separate depots. The Goodrich line of steamers also touch there. At one time Grand Haven had large lumber interests, but of late years this trade has heen reduced. The principal business now is the manufacture of agricultural implements and woodenware.