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The following was taken from History of Stromsburg 1872-1972. STROMSBURG FIRES During all the years of its existence Stromsburg has had but one fire when more than one building was burned, and that was when the west side was swept away on July 21, 1887. This fire destroyed every building but two on that side of the square; the old Windsor hotel that stood on the north end of the block where the Sinclair Oil Station is now located, and a barber shop. At that time the main business of the town was centered on that side of the square. Money was not plentiful and many lost all they had, but they soon were rebuilding. The fire started in the rear of the L. M. Wood’s store and restaurant. It was about 2:00 A.M. when a small blaze was discovered and the cry of fire brought out some of the citizens. This was the only alarm at that time, and the lack of water allowed the fire to gain headway. In a few minutes, the L. M. Woods building was a mass of flames. There was no wind, but the fire spread in both directions from the Woods building. Before the fire had reached the Post & Headstrom store, everybody that could run or walk was lending a helping hand. The only buildings saved on the west side were the Windsor Hotel and Axel Sundgren’s barber shop. The barbershop was moved out of the reach of the fire by being turned over a couple of times. There was a space between the Windsor Hotel and the next building and several lines of bucket brigades managed to save the hotel. Other businesses lost in the fire were two dressmaking shops, Sanford McKeever’s law office, L. P. Green’s meat market, L. H. Headstrom's office, and the Post & Headstrom store. The first fire in Stromsburg of which we have been able to learn was that of F. F. Vogel’s implement house and contents, destroyed in 1876. The next fire was that of J. A. Frawley’s store in 1879. It had just been opened in the spring of that year and sustained a complete loss that fall. Early in June of 1888 fire destroyed the Nichol furniture stock and building located at the northwest corner, now Co-op Lumber corner. The big west side fire was instrumental in bonds being let for a water system and the second fire hastened the matter along. After
the city water had been established, a fire company was organized, Hose Company
No. 1. Their first fire call was to
extinguish a fire one block southwest of the city park, when Chas. Bigg’s barn
was destroyed. Because of insufficient water pressure and length of hose the
building could not be save. This
fire occurred on Febr. 27, 1889. No
more fires of importance occurred until June 30, 1893, when Bell & McCune
elevator was burned, and on May 31, 1896, when the Omaha elevator burned down. Fires that have occurred since the organization of the Fire Company, with loss sustained are as follows: September 21, 1893, John Hurd Shoe Store, Alfred Anderson Harness Shop. Loss $800 on shoe stock, $500 on harness stock and $350 on building. March
10, 1894, Pressed Brick and Tile Co. thirty foot shed burned. March
30, 1894, Brash Lunch Room, damage $50. June
12, 1897, Andrew Shidner’s bar, total loss. April 15, 1898, Alfred Thoren’s cow shed destroyed.
April
21, 1898, Bryant Normal University, loss $12,000. May
27, 2898, City Jail, at that time on the west side of square. Dec.
25, 2898, Christmas tree at the Methodist Church caught fire, not much damage. April
25, 1899, fire in rear of R. Gold’s store, slight damage done, incendiary. June
25, 2899, fire in roof of Stromsburg Brick Kiln, loss $50. May
1, 1900, coal bin at water works, not much damage. Jan.
1, 1900, at midnight, Eden Baptist church, from explosion in acetylene lighting
plant, loss $5,000. Oct.
10, 1901, fire in J. A. Anderson’s coal shed, slight damage. Feb.
17, 1902, N. E. Nelson’s violin organ and piano mandolin attachments. Aug.
8, 1904, A. T. Carlson’s store, damage to shed in rear.
1909
4 fires listed. Sept.
12, 1909, a. B. Lind’s residence, $500 loss when lamp exploded. 1910
March
23, 1910, small barn at Chas. Bloomquist’s, horse and building lost. Started from passing engine. May
23, 1910, Dr. George Flippin’s barn, one block east of square, damaged, also
barns on lots of C. J. Johnson and Wm. Fusby. 1911 Sept.
22, 1911, Foster elevator, fire set from engine on train.
Lost both building and 30,000 bu. Of grain.
May
25, 1911, Stromsburg Brick Col., shed destroyed. 1912
4 fires in 1912. April
15, 1912, John Ostbloom, stock ruined and building damaged. 1914
Dec. 1, 1914, small damage to Peter Olson residence. 1916
Aug. 18, 1916, store room in Park Hotel.
Dec.
8, 1916, Olsen’s broom factory completely destroyed. 1917
Nov. 28, 1917, born of A. W. Hamilton, loss $700. 1918
2 small fires in 1918. 1920
2 calls listed in 1920. 1922
1 call listed. 1923
1 call listed. 1925
1 call listed. 1926
Nov.
22, 1926, barn and granary at Dr. Flippin chicken farm, loss $1800.
Dec.
25, 1926, at J. A. Anderson bakery, loss $1500. 1927
1 call in 1927 1928
2 calls in 1928 1929
2 calls in 1929 From
1930 to 1934, just slight damage until June
25, 1934, Mrs. G. Slucher home, cause unknown, damage $1,500. 1936
4 calls in 1936
Jan.
26, 1936, Erickson and Anderson Hardware, furnace $7,600 damage.
Nov.
21, 1926, Leonard Mentink, barn total loss. 1937
Jan.
2, 1937, H. J. Getty residence, total loss. 1938 Dec.
31, 1938, Farmer’s Union building at Swede Home, complete loss. 1939
Dec.
19, 1939, Orphan Home Hospital barn burned down. 1940
7 calls in 1940 Dec.
31, 1940, Dixie Headman residence, $2,500 damage, call came too late. 1941
3 calls in 1941 1943
Evangelical
Free Church building was totally destroyed by fire Jan. 18, 1943. 9
calls to 1948 1948
July
31, 1948, Mrs. Conkle hog house burned and 2 ½ acres of wheat.
June
8, 1948, Harlen Donelson farm home, $2,500 damage.
Febr.
1948, Johnson’s Service Station, complete loss. 15
calls to 1950 with car fires and roof fires from sparks the most prevalent. 1950
9 calls in 1950.
April 4, 1950, Don Fellows farm, hog house lost.
April
6, 1950, Don Nordberg chicken house fire.
April
22, 1950, D. D. Jacobson & Son corn crib and corn by lightning.
Dec.
31, 1950, Arthur Carlson, $3,000 damage when ash tray upset. 1951
to 1971
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