Other Event Detail

Mayer and Stern Shoe Factory Fire
Philadelphia, PA

February 1, 1881

Fire was discovered soon after 6 o'clock in the morning of February 1, 1881, in the six-story building occupied as a shoe factory by Mayer & Stern, at 212 and 214 Carters-alley, a small street running between Second and Third streets, below Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Three successive alarms brought a large force to the scene, but the fire continued to spread rapidly. Owing to the prevailing snowstorm, the narrowness or the alley, the great height of the buildings, and the network of telegraph wires, the firemen experienced much difficulty in getting to work. The flames quickly reached the adjoining eight-story brick building, 216 and 218 Carters-alley, and then spread right and left among a number of two and three story dwellings and shops in the same street. Fire then broke out in the five-story brick building at 123 Exchange-place. The falling walls demolished Kirchner's beer saloon at 119 Exchange-place, the adjoining structure at 121 Exchange-place. All of these places were destroyed before the fire was checked. Seven stories of the Carters-alley wall of the eight-story building fell with a terrific crash, but no one was hurt. Other high walls which were still stand?ng unsupported, had water forced against theit sides by the fire department to hasten their fall. The following were given as the losses by the various firms: Mayer & Stern Ladies'and children's shoes - $73,000; The Welkel & Smith Spice Company - $10,000; Samuel Larzelere, printer - $6.000; The Keystone Portable Forge Company - $9,000; Allen & Brothers, agricultural implement makers - $8,000; W.H.R. Joy, fancy printing - $2,500; R. Giffrey, bone and horn - $6.000; Scragle & Brothers, metal workers - $6.000. The buildings were all owned by John Rummell, Jr. He places his loss at $163,000. The amounts may be somewhat lower, but the overall total loss cannot fall below $200,000. Several hundred hands, many of them women, were thrown out of employment by the fire.

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