"Big Fire Nov. 11, 1896." Aftermath of devastating fire on Front Street, Traverse City.

"Big Fire Nov. 11, 1896." Aftermath of devastating fire on Front Street, Traverse City.

Fires

Black and white photograph of the aftermath of a devastating fire on Front Street, Traverse City, Michigan, dated 11 November 1896. The fire swept through the frame stores and saloons on the south side of the street, first the hotel, then a drug store within it, Broesch and Sons meat market, C.A. Cavis’s cigar store, Hiram Cook’s grocery, then a barbershop, and two saloons. Next, a large two-storied structure, the Rich & Hallberg building caught fire, one of its walls coming to rest against the brick Tonneller building. In all thirty people made it out of the fire: one did not. Ed Newberry, a Swedish hotel porter, was found later, his dog beside him. The Traverse City Fire Department was credited by the local newspaper, the "Grand Traverser Herald," for having stopped the blaze from spreading further west. However, the flames did spread to the north of Front Street, destroying many of the buildings there, although the staff and owners of a wooden dry goods and Steinberg's Opera House (in photograph, far right, the tallest brick building), were able to save their buildings. The fire was believed to have started in the Front Street House.

Unknown

GT Pioneer & Historical Society

Unknown

1896/11/11

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None

JPG

English

Image

1645

DF701927-3802-48A0-A807-197327674890

Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, Michigan, United States.

Black and white photograph