Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 March 1902 — BIG FIRE AT GOODLAND. [ARTICLE]

BIG FIRE AT GOODLAND.

Bank, Postoffice, Burgess’ Hardware, Stein’s Clothing Store, and Toyne’s Grocery Burned. ■. /Goodland was visited by another disastrous fire last Saturday night and before its ravages were stopped five business houses were reduced to ashes. The fire started about 9 o’clock, and was caused from an explosion of a keg of gunpowder in C. E. Burgess’ hardware store, it is said, although what caused the explosion we are unable to learn. The town has no waterworks or other means of fighting a fire, and the flames quickly spread to the postofiice, Toyne’s grocery, Baldwin & Dague’s bank and Stein’s clothing store on the corner. All the buildings were old frahie structures except the bank building, which was a one story brick and the second brick business building, we believe, erected in Goodland. The Burgess stock, which was quite heavy, was totally destroyed, but most of the contents of the other buildings were saved, while the fire-proof vault of the bank rendered their loss small except possibly SI,OOO on building. The handsome Jacobs store building was immediately south of the Burgess store, but being of brick and a fire wall on the south of the latter building, was saved from serious damage. Of the buildings burned, two belonged to Gray & Burgess, two to Mrs. Blake Wilson and the bank building to Baldwin & Dague, bankers. The loss is roughly estimated at $35,000, with insurance covering the greater part. The burned district will probably be rebuilt at once with good, substantial bricks of modern architecture, therefore the fire in the end will have been a benefit to the town.