Middletown Fire
Middletown, PA
April 9, 1910
About seventy-five buildings burned in Middletown, Pennsylvania, on April 8, 1910. The town was in danger for a couple of hours, but with the efforts of the firemen from Harrisburg, Lancaster, Columbia, and Steelton, and the use of explosives, the spread of fire was stopped. With the exception of a few, most of the buildings that were destroyed were small single-story frame structures. The fire started from an overheated stove used to burn the refuse of the Market House. It set fire to the Market House building and the flames spread to the Auditorium. A high wind carried sparks for a long distance and several times set fire to the plant of Raymond Manufacturing Company, but the employees saved it. The sparks also ignited the grandstand and buildings of the Middletown Fair Association and the home of David Brubaker in Royalton a half mile away. The fair buildings and twelve frame houses in Royalton burned. The fire covered an area of four blocks in Middletown, and spread so rapidly with the stiff breeze that people had no time to remove their belongings. However, nobody was seriously injured. The estimated damage from the fire was $400,000. Among the losses were the Middletown Auditorium, including the post office, Schultzbach's shoe store, and Longenacker's Cafe; McNair's Block, including R.P. Raymond's hardware store, Kraus Brother's clothing store, and Rewalt's drug store; the Middletown Y.M.C.A.; Middletown Fairgrounds; Farmers' Market House; Odd Fellows' Hall; and about fifty-five other small buildings. |
