Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1899 — A Fire at Wolcott. [ARTICLE]

A Fire at Wolcott.

Wolcott was visited last Saturday night by what is said to have been the most disastrous fire that ever occurred in the history of the town. About 7 o’clock in the evening fire was discovered in the K. of P. lodge room, over Jones & Watson’s grocery, and before it could be conquered four buildings were consumed. The poultry house of Beyer Bros., the residence of Mrs. Bart Bunnell, the building occupied by Jones & Watson and the town calaboose were all burned to the ground. Very little was saved from any of the buildings, and there was comparatively little insurance. According to some reports there was great loss of life. Towit, 10,000 bed-bugs housed in the calaboose, and of whom none were rescued. The grocery building was a good two story frame, and belonged to Wils Baker.