Fire Hits Sherwood in July, 1887

"DESTRUCTIVE FIRE

SHERWOOD A VICTIM OF THE ANGRY FLAMES

ALMOST THE ENTIRE BUSINESS PORTION OF THE TOWN LAYED WASTE IN TWO SHORT HOURS

Word reached Defiance Sunday afternoon that Sherwood, a village west of us twelve miles in this county has been almost consumed by fire.

On Monday morning, a representative of the Express (Defiance Express) went to the scene of the conflagration and gleaned full particulars of the fire.

It originated in a barn at the rear of G.F. Brenner's dry goods store and is supposed to have caught from a stub of a cigar that some careless person had thrown down. When first discovered, the flames were well under headway. The town turned out en masse with buckets to save the building, but were unable to do so. 

A brisk breeze was blowing from the northwest, the barn stood on a street running east and west and on the side of the block from the direction of the wind. The flames spread to a ware room* east of the barn and from that to a dwelling, both owned by John C. Miller. The dwelling was valued at $800, and insured for $500 in Glens Falls. The ware room was not insured. A renter lived in the house and succeeded saving his goods.

G. F Brenner's dry goods store stood next on the west and was fired by the burning barn, and from the storeroom, his residence caught fire. The storeroom contained a stock of dry goods and groceries, all of which, together with his household goods, were saved, or nearly all. The buildings were valued at $1,600, insured for $1,000.  Goods in the store were insured for $4,500.  The loss above what goods were saved, and including the building, is estimated to at $2,000, all of which will be fully satisfied by the insurance company.

Next to Brenner's residence were the buildings of Sam. Miller, a saloon and a residence. On the back of the lot, and adjacent to the barn of Brenner in which the fire originated, was the barn of Miller's. They were all an easy prey to the flames. The stock of goods in the saloon and the household goods were all saved, but considerably damaged.

Two barrels of whiskey were stored away and went up in flames. Sixty bushels of wheat and some stoves and machinery that were in the barn were destroyed. There were six hogs in a pen in one corner of the barn, four of which were let out. Two were burned to death. On the residence and saloon building there was an insurance of $1,850 each, in the Royal.*   There was no insurance on the goods. The barn was insured for $150.

Adjacent to Miller's was a residence building, a storeroom, a wood shed, ice house, and barn, belonging to C. J. Chenevert, of Defiance. The storeroom was empty but was soon to have been occupied by a stock of groceries. All of these buildings, valued by Mr. Chenevert, at $2000, were consumed. Insurance for $1200.

Sherwood after the fire - 1887

Next to these buildings was the store room of Orlando Coffin, occupied by E. Miller with a stock of groceries, valued at $2,500. They were all removed and entailed a loss of $500. Insured for $1800. The $500 loss will be paid in full. The buildings including a millinery store room, occupied by Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Kyle with a stock of millinery goods which they saved, were insured.  They were valued at $1500.

There were fifteen buildings in all burned, valued at $25,000.  It is altogether the largest fire in proportion to the size of the town that has been in thse parts for many a day.  There was only one dry goods store left in the town and no grocery store.  It was with the most strenuous efforts thata the fire was kept from spreading to adjacent dwellings.

The dry goods store of Jacob Staadecker was barely kept from burning.  The following buildings across the street were more or less damaged:

The hotel, two dwellings, post office, drug store, with Odd Fellows hall above and hardware store.

The fire broke out about 1 o'clock, and in less than two hours, the buildings were in ashes.

W. E. Doud, of Defiance, and his father-in-law, Mr. Haveland, had purchased the stock of groceries of E. Miller ad would have taken possession of them the 1st of August. They will at once put in a general stock of boots and shoes and groceries.

Another view of Sherwood, after the fire

The businesses left on the north side of the railroad is the drug store of E. J. Potter, hardware store of H.E. Huffman, harness shop of Geo. W. Renz, barber shop of Harry Rock, agricultural store of John Core, and dry goods store of Jacob Staadecker.  The post office is located in the drug store of Mr. Potter.  It is believed that buildings will be erected on the ruins and business to some extent resumed.  It may be some time, though, as much business will center in one block. The citizens are talking of organizing a hook and ladder company for protection in the future.

A telephone message was sent to the Defiance fire department to take an engine up and for the hook and ladders. A B & O train was held in readiness at Sherwood to come after them, but on account of no water supply there for an engine, it was not deemed advisable to go.  Chief Rourke held everything in readiness for the train, and if it had been sent, would have taken a full force to have downed the fire.  Had they sent the engine for the hooks, even, the fire could have been checked before doing so much damage."

Defiance Express, July 14, 1887

Photos courtesy of Dan Hasch