News: Neillsville, Wis. - Wis. House (Fire - 17 Apr 1902)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Hommel, Schmoll

----Source: The Neillsville Times (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) April 17, 1902

Wisconsin House (Fire - 1902)

The Wisconsin House, corner of Sixth and Court Street, caught fire Friday morning about 10 o’clock, during one of the severest wind storms of the season, and was saved only by the promptest kind of work by Fire Chief Hommel and his men, and the quick application of a deluge of water sent to the right spot in three streams of terrific force.  The fire was under the basement floor on the west - the windward - side of Mrs. Schmoll’s four story caravansary, and the wind forced the smoke through the building in a way that gave a dangerous look to things.  It took but a moment to get at the exact seat of danger, and apply the remedy.  It is supposed that the fire started from a carelessly thrown cigarette stub or a spark from an ash heap.  Ten minutes more start and the huge tinderbox would have had a poor chance to be saved, and the whole line of buildings to the brewery would have been lost.