(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) AKRON'S POSTAL SERVICE - 325 Morrison, being himself a Wayne county man, secured the influence of our then Member of Congress, Hon. A. S. McClure, and thus carried off the prize. rapt. Morrison retained Mr. Shreffier as his Chief Clerk for three years, Mr. George Schick also remaining at the head of the Carrier Department, while the Captain's son, Mr. Ira I. Morrison, officiated as mailing clerk and deputy postmaster. Not because of any dereliction of duty, in his conduct of the office, but owing to the little circumstance that Grover Cleveland, instead of James G. Blaine, was elected President of the United States, in 1884, Capt. Morrison failed to succeed himself, and on the expiration of his four years' commission, yielding gracefully to the inevitable, on the 16th day of August, 1886, turned the office over to his Democratic successor. WILLIAM CHAUNCEY ALLEN, —son of Alvin and Mercy (Hall) Allen, was born in Granger, Ohio, August 10,1828; educated in Granger district schools and Akron select and Union schools, coining to Akron in 1844 ; in 1845 worked at map printing and finishing for Adams & Eggleston ; taught school in Granger in Summer of 1846; in Falor district, Coventry, in Winter of 1846, '47 ; Summer of 1847 in map factory ; in Winter of 1847, '48 teaching in Bath ; in Spring of 1848 resumed work in map factory, continuing till burned out, January 9, 1848; then worked in mill with brother-in-law, Mr. Samuel Dunkle, in Williams county, till Fall of 1849 ; clerk for Postmaster Frank Adams, and telegraph operator, till Fall of 1852, when he Went to Calim fornia, remaining there one year ; clerked in post office and telegraph operator under Postmasters E. W. Perrin and Roland 0. Hammond from 1854 to 1861 ; manager of Union Telegraph Office from 1861 to 1885 ; postmaster of Akron from August, 1886 to January 1, 1891. Mr. Allen has served two terms as member of the Akron Board of Education, being secretary of the board for the years 1858, '59, '60, and as clerk of Portage township for the years 1868, '69, '70, "71. POSTMASTER WILLIAM C. ALLEN. The whirligig of time and politics having, after an interregnum of almost a quarter of a century, again placed the Democratic party in the ascendency, in the nation, and Mr. William C. Allen, having, in the intervening years, embraced the Democratic faith, was, by the almost universal assent of the local patrons of the office, both Democrats and Republicans, very proper designated as Postmaster of Akron, by President Cleveland, on the 22d day of July, 1886, being confirmed by the Senate August 10th and entering upon his duties, as stated, August 16th. In his quest for the office, Mr. Allen was confronted by two life-long Democratic politicians—William Myers and Lewis C. Parker—but owing to the intimate personal and political relations existing between Mr. Allen and ex-Congressman David R. Paige, and, in turn, the intimate personal and political relations existing between Mr. Paige and Senator Henry B. 326 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Payne, who dispensed the executive patronage of this district, under Mr. Cleveland's administration, Mr. Allen readily distanced his competitors and won the prize. THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE OFFICE. That Mr. Allen made a good officer, in every way, goes without saying,. the clerical force of the office under his administration —all thoroughly proficient in their several departments—being as follows: William C. Allen, Postmaster ; Charles W. Taneyhill, Deputy;; George W. Schick, Superintendent of Carriers ; Edwin P. Humes, Mailing Clerk ; George T. McKean, Assistant Mailing Clerk; Frank A. Cummins, General Delivery Clerk ; Carriers : John NV, Sabin, Arthur E. Limric, William H. Kasch, Charles D. Steese, James K. P. Souers, Frank L. Butler, Harry A. Pardee, Patrick Flanagan, Harry C. Eichenlaub, Fred H. O'Brien, William A. Caldwell, Charles C. Pomeroy, William J. Hoye, substitute ; John Garahan, special delivery. WILLIAM B. GAMBLE,--son of Samuel L. and Eliza Jane Gamble, was born in Wabash, Ind., October 3, 1850, raised on farm, and educated in common schools; at 14, sought to enter the army, but premvented by father, as being too young; in 1873, came to Akron and with H. A. Gibbs and V. I. Morton, organized the stoneware firm of W. B. Gamble & Co., in the Sixth ward, the firm being changed to Gamble & Morton, in 1875. The works, being soon afterwards destroyed by fire, with no insurance and'almost total loss, were rebuilt and continued until 1880, when the firm sold out; Mr. Gamble then operating as traveling jobber of stoneware until the organization of the Akron Stoneware Agency in 1883. Having been an active Republican, since attaining his majority, Mr. Gamble was elected Sheriff of Summmit county, in 1884, and re-elected in 1886, ably filling that responsible office four years, and officiating as deputy under his successor two years longer; is a director in Akron Savings Bank, vice president of Globe Sign Company; director and vice president of Akron Building and Loan Association; director in D. F. Morgan Boiler Co.; etc. In December, 1890, Mr. Gamble was appointed, by President Harrison, postmaster of the City of Akron, entering upon his official duties January 1, 1891. January 1, 1872, he was married to Miss Clara S. Boardman, of Akron, who has borne him one child—Eva L., born January 14, 1874. POSTMASTER WILLIAM B. GAMBLE. Another political revolution bringing the Republicans again into power, in 1889, there were, as a matter of course, a number of patriotic gentlemen of that faith who were willing to become Mr. Allen's successor, the most spirited contest for the position being between ex-Sheriff William B. Gamble and Major Emmitt F. Taggart. So sharp was the competition that the appointment hung AKRON'S POSTAL SERVICE - 327 fire nearly six months after the expiration of Mr. Allen's commission, Mr. Gamble finally securing the prize, his commission from President Harrison bearing date Jan. 8, 1891, and the office being formally turned over to him, by Mr. Allen, Jan. 10. A few changes, only, have been made in the clerical force, the present roster (August, 1891) being as follows : William B. Gamble, P. M.; Andrew M. Smith, Assistant P. M.; George W. Schick, Superintendent of Mails ; Edwin P. Humes, Mailing Clerk ; George F. McKean, assistant mailing clerk ; Arthur L. Northrup, money order clerk ; William H. Sperling, general delivery clerk ; John Garahan, stamper ; Letter Carriers : John W. Sabin, Arthur E. Limric, William H. Kasch, Charles D. Steese, William J. Hoye, James K. P. Souers, Harry A. Pardee, Patrick Flanagan, Harry C. Eichenlaub, Fred H. O'Brien, William H. Caldwell, Charles C. Pomeroy, Fred G. Steese, James C. Reherd ; Substitute Carriers : Charles E. Gostlin, John W. Breiner, John H. Thomas. HARRY C. EICHENLAUB, — whose full length portrait, in the uniform of a govmernment letter carrier, is given herewith, is one of Uncle Sam's highly popular and widemawake postal messengers in Akron. He is a son of Alois and Catharine (Waelde) Eichenlaub, was born in Cleveland Feb. 14, 1859, removing with his parents to Akron about 1864, his father being Akron's pioneer manufacturing confecmtioner, prosecuting that business on Howard street, until within a few months of his death, March 4, 1873. Harry was educated in Akron public schools ; striking out early for himself, for a time clerked in saddlery hardware store of George S. Scott, 102 North Howard street; later as key clerk at Sherman House, Chicago, and still later three years in the clothing store of Hoffman & Moss in Akron. In the Fall of 1886, Postmaster William C. Allen placed him on his staff of letter carriers, the duties of which position he so faithfully discharged that Mr. Allen's successor, Postmaster William B. Gamble, re-appointed him thereto in 1891, Harry having hosts of warm personal friends among the local members of both political parties. He is also a member of one of Akron's most popular business and social institutions—The "Citizens' Club." THEN AND NOW. In the early days, the postmaster received as compensation a commission on the amount of business transacted, amounting, during Mr. Frank Adams' administration-1849 to 1853—to about $1,000 per year—the postmaster fitting up his own office, paying rent, clerk hire, etc. Postal rates, in those days, were on a sliding scale : under 30 miles, six cents ; 30 to 150, twelve and a half cents ; 150 to 400, eighteen and three-fourths cents; over 400, twenty-five cents, and, as late as 1850, the postage on letters between Ohio and California 328 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. was 40 cents. This, too, be it remembered, was on "single" letters, without regard to weight. Thus, a letter on a light note sheet, containing a dollar bill, or check, though the whole did not weigh over onemfourth of an ounce, would be subject to double postage; while a letter written on a single piece of paper, as large as a bed blanket, and weighing several ounces, called for single postage only. This, of course, required the utmost vigilance, on the part of postmasters, to prevent frauds upon the government. Commencing about 1851, postage rates have been gradually reduced, so that now a letter, not exceeding one ounce in weight, no matter how many pieces of paper it may contain, will go from Florida to Alaska for two cents, with a fair prospect that a one-cent rate will soon be established. Now, the government pays for fitting up office, rent, fuel, lights, clerk hire, incidental expenses, etc. The present net salary of the postmaster, based upon his gross receipts, is $3,100, with anmother hundred to be added when the gross recipts reach $60,000 per year. The present allowance for clerk hire is $5,000 per year, exclusive of the carriers, twelve of whom are paid $850 per year, and the remaining two $600. A FEW INTERESTING STATISTICS. The Department reports, covering the seven years from June 30, 1884, to June 30, 1891 so far as relates to the Akron office, are as follows : Year ending June 30, 1885, gross receipts, $31,056.81; salary, $2,800 ; clerk hire, $3,200 ; rent, light and fuel, $998.75 ; other incidental expenses, $29.00; free delivery, $5,488.45; total expenses, $12,510.20 ; net revenue, $18,539.61; per cent. of expenses to gross receipts, 40. Year ending June 30, 1886: gross receipts, $35,923.13 ; salary, $2,800 ; clerk hire, $3,200 ; rent, light and fuel, $1,567 ; other incimdental expenses, $84.33 ; free delivery, $5,900.89 ; total expenses, $13,552.20 ; net revenue, $22,370.92 ; per cent of expenses to gross receipts, 37. Year ending June 30, 1887: gross receipts, $38,600.10 ; salary, $2,800 ; clerk hire, $3,333.15; rent, light and fuel, $1,570; other incidental expenses, $41.46 ; free delivery, $7,010.72 ; total expenses, $14,755.33 ; net revenue, $23,853.77 ; per cent. of expenses to gross receipts, 38. Year ending June 30, 1888: gross receipts, $14,882.47; salary, $2,900; clerk hire, $3,400; rent, light and fuel, $1,570; other incimdental expenses, $121.36 ; free delivery, $7,885.69 ; total expenses, $15,877.05 ; net revenue, $29,005.42 ; per cent. of expenses to gross receipts, 35. Year ending June 30, 1889: gross receipts, $49,018.48; salary, $3,000 ; clerk hire, $3,691 ; rent, fuel, etc., $1,570 ; incidentals, $127.02; free delivery, $9,729.31; total expenses, $18,117.33; net revenue, $30,901.15 ; per cent. of expenses to receipts, 37. Year ending June 30, 1890: gross receipts, $50,394.84; salary, $3,100; clerk hire, $5,000; rents, etc., $1,380; incidentals, $148.63; free delivery, $10,522.15; total expenses, $20,150.78; net revenue, $30,244.06 ; per cent. of expenses to receipts, 40. 329 - AKRON'S POSTAL SERVICE. Year ending June 30, 1891: gross receipts, $58,178.56. Total nses for year not reported at date of compilation of this arti From the figures above given, it will be seen that the busiof the office is rapidly increasing, year by year, to which will ubtedly soon be added that of the Sixth Ward, so that more will, in the near future, become an absolute necessity, and long talkedmof Government Building, now almost in sight, a sing that will be duly appreciated by both the entire people of on and the local government officials. CHAPTER XVI. AKRON'S FIRES, FROM 1839 TO 1891—HUNDREDS OF HOUSES, SHOPS, STORE MILLS, CHURCHES, ETC., DESTROYED-MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH 0 VALUABLE PROPERTY GIVEN TO THE DEVOURING FLAMES-INCENDDARIS RAMPANT-THE BUCKET BRIGADE, THE CRANK AND BRAKE ENGINE AN THE TIRELESS STEAMER-DISASTERS AND IMPROVEMENTS OF HALF CENTURY-A CHAPTER WORTHY OF PERUSAL. AKRON'S EARLY FIRE COMPANIES. PREVIOUS to 1839 there was no definitely organized fire departmment in Akron, other than the appointment, by the Council, of five fire wardens to look after the safety of stoves, chimneys, etc., and to take charge of the " bucket brigade," on the occurrence of a fire, alarms being sounded by passing the cry of fire from mouth to mouth, or from house to house, and by the ringing of the bells in the towers of the original Baptist and Universalist churches, after 1837, '38. In the meantime certain public-spirited citizens, feeling the need of some more efficient mode of extinguishing fires, or at least of checking their spread, formed a stock company, and in 1839, purchased a small rotary hand engine, at a cost of $600, in shares of $25 each, three only of the twentymfour original stock-holders being now (1891) alive—Nahum Fay, Frank Adams and Samuel A. Lane. The "North Akron Fire Company" was organized December 11, 1839, with 32 members as follows: Nahum Fay, Samuel Manning, Levi Manning, Sylvanus G. Gaylord, Elias L. Munger, Elisha 1. Bangs, Charles Bateman, Lucius V. Bierce, Harvey H. Johnson, Samuel A. Lane, Arad Kent, Cyrus Shumway, S. L. Shaw, John Kidder, William Tarble, John C. Kidder, Samuel C. Bangs, Frank Adams, Francis Rattle, Abram Smith, Leverett J. Ives, Henry L. Lane,, Alfred R. Townsend, William E. Wright, Benjamin R. Manchester, James Baldwin, John G. Darby, Charles Earl, Norman Lewis, Reuben A. Kinney. The company, furnished itself with fifty feet of leather hose, paid its own running expenses, rent of room for housing its machine, meetings, etc., until the erection by the town, in the latter part of 1841, of the front end of the diminutive building shown in the accompaning engraving, just 10x 15 feet in size, and located over the race in Mill street, fronting on Howard. This machine was purchased from the stockholders, by the town, for the munificent sum of $200, in January, 1846, on a credit of one and two years. NIAGARA, NUMBER Two.—In 1845, the village had purchased a new and larger engine, run by side brakes, and in December, 1845, Niagara Fire Company, No. 2, with 47 members, was presented to the Council for acceptance, the first foreman of the company being the late Charles Webster, the only original members now living, so far as known, being James Christy, Thomas H. Goodwin and EARLY FIRE COMPANIES - 331 Levi Allen, Jr. After allowing this company to skirmish for quarters, for a year or two, in the latter part of 1848 the Council caused to be erected for its use the small two-story brick building, afterwards for some years used as a lock-up, and still standing, on Tallmadge street, between Howard and Main. TORNADO NUMBER THREE.—January 30, 1847, a hook and ladder company, under the above title, was accepted by the Council; of its 32 original members six only are now believed to be living—James M. Hale, Robert Baird ,Webster B. Storer, James B. Taplin, Ambrose Chapin, George Mather. A house for this company, 12 x 30 feet, was built along side the original house of engine company Number One, on Mill street. A NEW NUMBER ONE.—In 1852, a new brake engine was purchased, by Council, to take the place of the rotary, and a new engine house built on the present site of the city building, the old machine and house being turned over to a company of public-spirited boys, ranging from 15 to 18 years of age, who organized themselves into "Protective Fire Company, Number Four," which continued in operation about two years, when both house and engine were taken to the West Hill and planted on Myrtle Place, where, for several years, it was maintained by an independent company of " West Hillers "—the writer among the number, who now retains as a relic, the two pieces of siding, on which was originally painted, by his own hand, in 1841, "Fire Co. No. 1," the " 1 afterwards being changed to "4." VARDOUS OTHER VOLUNTEER COMPANIES.—Though there was no pay, a vast amount of hard work, and a very great lack of appreciation, connected with the life of the ancient volunteer fireman, a service of five years working exemption from poll-tax and local military and jury duty, organizations of this character, of very great efficiency, were kept up until the advent of the steamer era, and the adoption of the pay system. Besides those mentioned, with their various metamorphoses, a German Hook and Ladder Company, under the name of "Washington, No. 3," with Philip A. Bierwirth as foreman, succeeded Tornado, No. 3; the Germans being in turn succeeded by Mechanics' Hook and Ladder Company, No. 3, which, with Eagle Hose Company, organized in June, 1866, after the purchase of the first-steamer, and composed of the very best young business men of the city, had an efficient existence of nearly ten years, both companies being disbanded on the adoption of the pay system, in 1876. With four commodious fire stations, three provided with first-class steamers, double hose reels and hook and ladder apparatus, and the fourth with a fine twomhorse hose carriage, and all provided with fine well-trained horses, and experienced men, the Akron Fire Department is now one of the very best of its class in the State. AKRON'S FIRES. In connection with the old Firemen's Celebration, in May, 1888, the writer gave a brief history of Akron's fire department, from the "bucket brigade" of the early thirties, the crank and brake engines of the forties, to the splendid equine-electro-steam-hydraulic-paid system of the present, a summary of which is given above. 332 - AKRON AND, SUMMIT COUNTY. And now, as a part of this work, though details cannot be largely indulged in, a brief review of Akron's most destructive fires during the past half century, will not be out of order. BURNING OF THE M. E. CHURCH. —Though some minor fires had previously occurred, the burning of Akron's original Methodist church, a frame building standing on the site of the present brick structure, but facing to the west, was the first public calamity that came upon the good people of Akron. The fire occurred at 2 o'clock on the morning of March 17, 1841, one of the very coldest of that winter, there being fully a foot of snow upon the ground. The cold was so intense that in the slow process of supplying our little hand engine with water, by drawing it with hook and bucket from the parsonage cistern, and passing it from hand to hand by the bucket brigade, we soon froze up, and while nothing could be done towards saving the church itself, we did save the parsonage, a few feet distant, by throwing snow upon the roof and against the sides. Loss $3,300—insurance $2,200. MIDDLEBURY CARRIAGE WORKS.--The latter part of March, 1814, the carriage factory of Collins & Co., in Middlebury, (now Akron's prosperous Sixth ward), corner East Market and Kent streets, was burned at a total loss of $5,000, about half covered by insurance. HOTEL, BARN AND EIGHT HORSES BURNED.—One of Akron's early hotels was the Ohio Exchange, a threemstory brick, on the present site of Woods' block, corner Market and Main streets. Pasmsing into the hands of Mr. Charles B. Cobb, the name was changed to Cobb's Exchange, in 1844. The large barn, connected with the hotel, about where Kryder's feed-store now stands, in addition to housing the horses of the guests, was also largely devoted to livery purposes, Mr. Cobb also running tri-weekly lines of coaches to Canton and Wooster, for the transportation of the mails, passengers, etc. On the night of September 15, 1844, this barn, containing some 50 horses, a large number of carriages, and large quantities of hay, straw, grain, etc., between 10 and 11 o'clock was found to be on fire, and in spite of the heroic exertions of firemen and citizens, eight horses perished in the flames. Nothing, of course, could be done towards saving the barn, but with our little rotary, and only 50 feet of hose, through the alacrity of citizens in supplying us with water from the near-by P. & 0. canal, and in spelling us at the cranks, we did prevent the flames from igniting the hotel kitchen, or from extending across the alley, to the rear of the row of frame business blocks fronting on Howard street. Mr. Cobb's loss, $1,200; insurance $500. [Building materials, horses, hay, oats, etc., were far less expensive then than now.] LARGE DISTILLERY GOES UP IN SMOKE.—On the night of November 9, 1844, the large distillery of Hiram Payne and Edward Sumner, west of Ohio canal, near lock 21, was totally destroyed, except the cattle and hog pens, saved by the efforts of the firemen. Loss $2,800; no insurance. AKRON'S EARLY FIRES - 333 JEWELRY AND CROCKERY.--February 10, 1846, the jewelry and crockery store of Samuel Gardiner, Jr., on the north side of East Market street, first door east of corner, was found to be on fire, but the hand engine companies performed such execution that the fire was confined to the building, in which started, with a loss of $500 only. LARGE TANNERY CONSUMED.—November 4, 1846, the tannery, located east of Ohio canal, near lock 16, owned and operated by Mr. Frank D. Parmelee; one of Akron's most enterprising merchants at that time, was consumed, though the adjoining bark house and contents were saved by the efforts of the firemen, there now being two companies in successful operation. Loss $14,000. AETNA FURNACE DESTROYED.— January 13, 1847, the AEtna Furnace, west side of the Ohio canal, opposite lock 12, owned by the late Judge James R. Ford, but operated by the Akron Manufacturing Company, under the management of the late Arad Kent, was totally destroyed, excepting the most valuable portion of the machinery, saved by the efforts of the firemen. Loss $2,000 to $3,000. NORTHWEST CORNER OF HOWARD AND MARKET.—June 9, 1848, the entire range of buildings (all frame) from present site of Hotel Arlington, corner Canal and Market, nearly to the present brick block of Mr. John Robb, on North Howard street, was consumed, with much of the contents of the several establishments. Among other sufferers were Dewey & Elkins, publishers of the SUMMIT BEACON, $500; J. A. Beebe & Co., books and drugs, $1,000; Horace Canfield, American Democrat, $1,000; Adams & Eggleston, map publishers, $8,000. James Baldwin, father of Capt. Aaron P. Baldwin, and Lewis Kilbourn, father of William W. Kilbourn, of 712 East Exchange street, were the largest losers, (amount not stated), being the owners of the corner block (the old Pavilion Hotel) and several of the contiguous buildings. WEST SIDE OF SOUTH HOWARD STREET.---September 16, 1848, the west side of Howard street, from the Cornmins & Allen brick block (now Star clothing house) north to the alley, adjoining Cutter's block, on the south. These were all original structures, two story frame buildings, owned respectively by John K. Foster, Henry S. Abbey, Alfred R. Townsend and Seth Iredell. The losses were: H. S. Abbey, building $400, jewelry (partly saved) $500; Oren Beckwith, harness, $200; E. C. Hurd, dry goods, $7,000; John M. Cutler, boots and shoes, $4,000; Asahel H. Pierson, tailor, $150; Charles Leonard, groceries, $800; Miss Hamilton, milliner, $100; Iredell & Whetstone, dry goods, building and stock $8,000; Timothy Clark, groceries, $100; Messrs. Foster and Townsend probably losing about $1,000 each. DEATH OF A BRAVE FIREMAN.—On the night of September 22d, 1849, the new brick dwelling house of Mr. Charles Cranz, on Prospect street, fronting Grace Park, now owned by John McGregor, then approaching completion, was burned. Though working to great disadvantage for want of water, the firemen fought the fire vigorously, and while at work on the back porch, Mr. David Miller, Akron's pioneer sash, door and blind manufacturer, was crushed to death by the falling of the porch roof, through the thoughtlessmess, it was asserted, of some person in knocking out one of the props by which it was temporarily held in place. Mr. Miller was 334 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY a member of Niagara Fire Co., No. 2, and one of its most energetic members. The brick walls of the house remained intact, and the building was immediately rebuilt. Mr. Cranz's loss was about $1,000, the builders, Messrs. B. F. and J. C. Dickerman, losing about $800 worth of tools. THE OLD STONE BLOCK, ETC.—On the night of Dec. 27, 1849, the territory between the famous old Stone Block, a solid three-story stone building covering the present sites of the Henry and Steinbacher blocks, Howard and Market streets, was covered as far south as the building now occupied by Wilson G. Robinson, by two-story (mostly frame) buildings and all fully occupied by mermchants, mechanics, lawyers, doctors, etc. The fire commenced about the middle and spread both ways. It was supposed that the solid high wall of the stone block would arrest the progress of the flames in that direction as effectually as the high brick wall of the Angel block upon the south side did. Unfortunately, however, there was a heavy over-hanging wooden cornice on that side of the block, and as the flames drew near, the brisk southwesterly wind sent them sheer up the wall to the cornice. The intense heat keeping the engines at too great a distance to do effective service, the result was that that mammoth building, too, was speedily consumed. The solid battlemented wall upon the east side kept the flames from spreading any further in that direction, but after the roof and floors had gone down, the wall, losing its supports, toppled over, falling inward, in doing which the lower portion sprang outward, shoving the adjoining two-story frame store building of J. D. Edson & Co. over into the alley, completely demolishing the lower story, but leaving the upper story, including the roof, doors, windows, etc., intact. The sufferers by this fire were : Milton W. Henry, dry goods; Henry Rattle, dry goods ; McCurdy & Michener, dry goods ; the Akron Bank ; Christy & Sawyer, boots and shoes ; J. Raymond & Co., dry goods ; George W. Wyman, clothing ; Charles Cranz, hardware ; George W. Peart, drugs ; Lander & Ward, boots and shoes; Koch & Levi, clothing; Sumner & Smith, clothing ; Neville & Smith, groceries ; C. B. Eells, tailor ; Bennett & Smith, harness ; Benjamin McNaughton, cigars ; Dr. E. W. Howard ; Otis & Wolcott, Pleasants & Harris, Upson & Edgerton, Philip N. Schuyler, lawyers. The individual losses were not given in the papers of the day, but the aggregate loss was estimated at $50,000. HALL'S CORNER NExT.--On the night of February 17, 1851, the entire block bounded by Howard, Market and Canal streets, south to the alley, was burned over, including the dry goods stores of P. D. Hall & Co., A. Hibbard & Co., Abbey & Rose, and Sumner & Co., the clothing store of I. P. Sanford, and the auction store of Johnson & Platt. The buildings were all of wood, the Hall block being the first store building erected in North Akron, in 1832. Part of the contents of the several stores were saved, the total loss being estimated from $25,000 to $30,000. FOUNDRY AND STOVE WORKS.—March 11, 1853, the extensive foundry and stove works, on the present site of the W. B. Doyle planing mill, owned and operated by P. Tallman & Co., was entirely consumed. The structure was a light one, but the patterns and castings destroyed were valuable. Loss $7,000. AKRON'S EARLY FIRES - 335 FLOURING MILL, FURNACE, PLANING MILL, ETC.—NOV. 1, 1853, the /Etna Mill, owned and operated by Rawson, Noble & Co., the /Etna Furnace, belonging to the estate of James R. Ford, the plancing mill of Dix & Finch, and the grocery store of John T. Good & Co. near lock 12, were consumed, the fire originating in the /Etna Mill. Total loss $40,000. NORTHEAST CORNER HOWARD AND MARKET.—Dec. 8, 1854, the northeast corner of Howard and Market streets, commencing north on the present site of Davis & Blocker's drug store and extending around to the Empire House, all wooden structures, one and two stories only. Total losses about $25,000—sufferers : Gardner & Walker, agricultural store ; J. H. Christy & Co., leather ; Cook & Dussell, groceries.; G. & S. Kempel, boots and shoes ; Sumner & Pardee, clothing ; Peterson & Wetmore, tin and hardware ; Morton, saloon ; W. D. Stevens, barber ; John Lander, boots and shoes ; Oren Beckwith, harness ; James Gardner, groceries. OHIO EXCHANGE, STORES, ETC.—April 30, 1855, the Ohio Exchange, threemstory brick, on the present site of Woods' block, with the intervening twocstory frame buildings west to Major Steins bacher's brick block, were consumed, with a loss to Rinear Van Evra, proprietor of Exchange, of $10,000; Frank Adams, hats, caps, furs, etc., $3,000; William H. Tallman, jewelry, $1,500; Malcolm & Co., (Arthur Malcolm and Samuel A. Lane) clothing, $8,000; Horace S. Weston, restaurant, $900 ; Koch & Levi, building, $1,000 ; Mrs. manda A. Ackley, building, $500; John T. Good, building, PO. Total, $24,900. ANOTHER MILL DESTROYED. The merchant and custom flouring mill, belonging to Mr. William Thayer, and operated by Wesener & Richmond, on the site now occupied by Pringle's livery stable, immediately south of the Schoeninger block, on Main street, was burned March 29, 1855, at a loss on mill and stock of $11,000, also fully covered by insurance. MR. THAYER AGAIN "UNFORTUNATE.”—Having leased his mill, as above, Mr. Thayer established a grain warehouse in the twocstory brick building corner West Market and Cherry streets, which, on June 19, 1855, was "mysteriously" burned, at an alleged loss of $1,000, also fully covered by insurance. ANOTHER FIRE ON HOWARD STREET.—A new two-story brick building, near the present site of Phoenix block, belonging to Judge Constant Bryan, and occupied by Ayers & Beadle, grocers, was burned on the night of March 26, 1856, at a loss to Judge Bryan of $2,300 with $1,500 worth of insurance, and to the occucpants of $1,500 with $1,000 insurance. A SECOND SEVERE SCORCHING.—After the disastrous fire of June 9, 1848, at the northwest corner of Howard and Market streets, Messrs. Baldwin & Kilbourn, and other lot owners, immediately replaced the buildings with substantial two and three-story brick blocks, all of which found ready occupation. On the night of Dec. 29, 1856, the Baldwin & Kilbourn portion of the block, embracing four store rooms on Howard street, and one on Market street,.were again destroyed. Among the losses by this fire, besides the trifling loss the parties, in whose grocery and meat market, on Market street, the fire started, Baldwin & Kilbourn's loss was probably from $10,000 to $12,000; Henry W. Wetmore, agricultural 336 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. store, $3,750; Beebe & Elkins, book and drug store on ground floor and Beacon office in the second story, $15,000 ; McNeil & Kempel, grocers, $1,200 ; James S. Carpenter and Henry W. Howe, attorneys, $700; Daniel B. Hadley and Newell D. Tibbals, attorneys, $550; Henry 0. Hampson, tinware, $100; total, about $35,000. This loss fell with peculiar hardship on Messrs. Beebe & Elmkins, not only being the second time they had been thus despoiled by the devouring element, but losing all their presses and types, and even their subscription books, made it the more difficult to pick up the stitches again and go on with the paper. But the old Beacon was recestablished, and on April 5, 1889, celebrated its Golden, or Fiftieth, Anniversary, the amount of matter in its weekly edition being four times greater than in the earlier years of its existence, while its twentymyear old daily, with fully twice as much reading matter as the original weekly, has an average circulation of over 3,000 copies per day. THE INCENDARIES COME TO GRIEF.—Though morally certain that several of the fires named were of incendiary origin, nothing had so tangibly implicated the perpetrators thereof as the circumstances attending this case. Two young men from the contiguous townships of Copley and Bath, tiring of farm life, purchased a small stock of groceries, in the room where the fire originated, inmvoicing but $250, upon which, on the alleged intention of largely replenishing, they had secured insurance to the amount of $1,000. At the time of the fire, not only had no addition been made to the stock, but considerable sold out, while on the morning after the fire several packages of goods were discovered in the barn jointly occupied by one of the partners and a neighbor. Though the affair was partially investigated by the Grand Jury, then in session, nothing was done about it until nearly a year afterwards, when, through the detective operations of Marshal J. J. Wright, with the hearty co-operation of Sheriff S. A. Lane, Deputy Sheriff A. R. Townsend, and Prosecuting Attorney, Henry McKinney, a chain of direct and circumstantial evidence was forged by which not only the principals but their chief confederate, (a hitherto respectable young farmer from the township of Northampton) were sent to the penitentiary for five years each, and the tool, who applied the match, one year, the latter, on being arrested, making a voluntary confession of the crime, and on the witness stand, disclosing with great particularity the details of the transaction from beginning to end. Serving his entire term, the latter soon vanished from the neighborhood; the others after serving about half their time were pardoned by Governor Dennison, the chief spirit of the enterprise, and instigator of the crime, soon floating off into the western country where, according to rumor, he speedily went to the bad, while his dupes at once resumed their places in the society of their respective townships, and have ever since conducted themselves in a strictly upright and industrious manner. In a civil suit, Messrs. Beebe & Elkins obtained a judgment for damages against the incendiaries for $14,867.77 damages at the November term of Court, 1858, though it does not appear from the record that any portion of said judgment has ever been paid. WEST SIDE OF HOWARD STREET.—March 1, 1857, the west side of Howard street, from the Perkins and Allen brick block, south to the brick tavern, part of which, now owned by Mr. Israel Isbell, is AKRON'S EARLY FIRES - 337 still standing, was devastated, the buildings, mostly cheap wooden structures, belonging principally to Judge Constant Bryan, William G. Raymond, of Akron, and his sister, Miss Raymond, of Rochester, N. Y. The occupants were: David Lebcher, marble works; Pierre Schinbring, furniture; Lewis Creveling, restaurant; Mr. Keiffer, boots and shoes; J. B. Martin, saloon and residence. Total loss probably $6,000. ANOTHER INCENDIARY FIRE.—On the morning of October 7, 1858, the extensive works of the Akron Barrel Company, on the present site of the Miller Chain and Match Works, with all its valuable machinery and material was consumed, presumably the work of an incendiary, and surmised to have been the work of local coopers who bitterly antagonized the introduction of laborsaving steam-driven machinery in the fabrication of the immense quantity of barrels then yearly used by the mills of Akron and vicinity, the manilla sacking, now so largely used, not having then come in vogue. The loss to the company was $12,000. A reward of $1,000 was offered for the detection and conviction of the incendiary, but though one or two slight clues were struck by detectives J. J. Wright and James Burlison, the perpetrator of the crime was never definitely discovered. MELOPEAN FACTORY BURNED.—Allusion has heretofore been made to a musical instrument—the melopean—invented by Mr. Horace B. Horton, and in the latter forties and early fifties manufactured by himself and the late Bradbury T. Blodgett. About 1852, William 0. Sanford, brother of Akron's pioneer cabinet maker, Mr. David G. Sanford, bought out Mr. Blodgett, Mr. Ira Rose, late of California, father of Akron's wellmknown nurseryman Mr. Lucius Rose, succeeding to the business in 1855, purchasing for that purpose "Central Block," a three-story brick building on the present site of Merrill's Pottery, corner South Main and State streets, built by the late Benjamin W. Stephens, in 1836. On the night of June 4, 1858; this establishment with all its contents was burned, with a loss to Mr. Rose of from $8,900 to $10,000, and to Mr. James Holmes, Mr. John C. McMillen and several other workmen of from $75 to $100 each in tools. The business was resumed in the Garrett Block, corner of South Howard and Cherry streets, by a stock company composed of Ira Rose, James F. Scott, John W. Baker, John C. McMillen, James Holmes and Leopold Swindeman, succeeded by James F. Scott and the late Alois Straub, Messrs. Horton Wright and William Smagg also being employes of the establishment for several years. ANOTHER HOTEL BARN FIRE.—April 18, 1859, three barns—two in the rear of, and belonging to, the " Bradford House," a twomstory -brick hotel on South Howard street (part of which is still standing there), and the other belonging to Mr. William G. Raymond, together with the frame kitchen to the hotel, were destroyed, a valcuable horse, after being rescued, rushing back into his stall already on fire and perishing in the flames. Total loss probably $1,000. Origin undoubtedly incendiary. FOUNDRY AND MACHINE SHOP.—June 27, 1860, at 1 .o'clock A. M., the foundry and machine shop of Webster, Taplin & Co., on the present site of the Webster, Camp & Lane Machine Company's works, corner of North Main and Tallmadge streets, were burned with all their contents. Loss, $10,000, 22 338 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. MIDDLEBURY CARRIAGE WORKS AGAIN.-January 2, 1860, the carriage works, blacksmith shop, etc., of Mr. Charles A. Collins, corner of East Market and Arlington streets, with most of thei contents, were again burned. Loss $10,000. ANOTHER MILL BURNED.-Between twelve and one o'clock, on Saturday night, February 24, 1866, the Variety Mills, previously sold by J. Park Alexander to Shewey, McGillicuddy & Co., on the present site of Mr. Alexander's Fire Brick Works, was burned, at a loss, on building, machinery and stock, of $13,000, with $8,000 insurance. THE CHIDESTER HOUSE FIRE.-The two and a half story frame building, on the present site of Masonic Temple, built by the late Col. Lewis P. Buckley in 1836, had passed into the hands of the late Conrad Fink, and had for several years been kept as a hotel, by Mr. William R. Chidester. The house being then vacant, and in spite of the fact that Mr. Fink himself slept there for " protection," at 2 o'clock A. M., April 15, 1867, the building was discovered to be on fire and past salvation. Three or four other one and two story frame buildings, on the north, were also totally consumed and the upper portion of the corner building opposite (still standing there) then owned by William G. Raymond, as well as a dwelling owned and occupied by Capt. George Billow, across the ravine to the north, and on the present site of the Pendleton block, Losses: Conrad Fink, $5,000; Joseph X. Laube, $1,000; Chambers, Appleton & Smagg, $1,500; Raymond, $4,000; Billow, $1,125. POTTERY WAREHOUSES BURNED.-At 9 o'clock P. M., August 28, 1867, the stone-ware shipping houses of J. Park Alexander, and G. N. Abbey & Co., near the Railroad Repair Shops, were burned. Mr. Alexander's loss $5,000, with no insurance. Abbey & Co's loss $12,000, with $2400 insurance: MATCH FACTORY DESTROYED.-August 25, 1867, the Akron Match Company's works, on North Summit street, were destroyed, at a loss, on building and stock, of $7,000, and $3,000 insurance. BOTH SIDES OF EAST MARKET STREET.-In those days the termritory on East Market street, from Main almost to High on the south side, and from Main to the alley, on the north side, was covered with two story frame buildings, all teeming with business life and activity, those on the south being occupied as follows: No. 200 (corner) Storer, Noble & Co., iron; 202, J. E. Wesener & Co., dry goods; 204, Adams & Hawk, clothing; 206, C. Vogt, saloon; Joseph Gonder (basement) painter, and Mrs. M. J. Van Fessler, (second story) residence; 208, Charles Teits, tailor; Joseph Fritz, barber; 210, J. S. Hawkins, harness maker, Amos Herman, dwelling; 212, G. F. Rentschler, meat market, Louis Cohn, (second story) tailor; 214, Henry McMasters, baker, Mrs. McMasters, (second story) millinery, William H. McMasters, music; 216, Hiram J. Ayres, meat market; 218, Jacob Miller, shoes; 220, M. Schware, jeweler, John Byrider, shoemaker; 222, A. Litchfield, groceries; 224, J. G. Reifsnider, groceries; the buildings being owned, respectively by Schoeninger Brothers, Samuel Hawk, G. F. Rentschler, J. S. Hawkins, Henry McMasters, H. J. Ayres, Jacob Miller and John Byrider. On the north side: 201, 203, Dodge & Cole, livery stable; 205, Wright & Freer, tinware, stoves, etc.; 207-209, Bittman Brothers, groceries; John Bakody, jeweler, Chas. Teits, residence; 211, Adam AKRON'S LATER FIRES - 339 Orth, restaurant, Mrs. Sullivan, residence; the buildings belonged to Robert P. Henry, Wright & Freer, Bittman Brothers and Jacob Good. The fire originated in the saloon of C. Vogt, on the south side, at 2 o'clock Sunday morning, March 11, 1869, and the structures being all of the most inflammable material, and the wind high, the tames spread with fearful rapidity, not only speedily destroying the buildings named, on both sides of the street, with the most of their contents, but also imperiling and in fact igniting many buildings to the north and east, which were only saved from destruction by the utmost exertions of the firemen and citizens. The losses, by this fire were respectively as follows: Storer, Noble & Co., $1,000; Schoeninger Brothers, $3,500; J. E. Wesener & Co., $15,000: Adams & Hawk, $9,000; C. Vogt, $200; Joseph Gonder, $200; Mrs. Van Fessler, $200; G. F. Rentschler, $8,000; Charles Teits 500; Joseph Fritz, $250; J. S. Hawkins, $2,800; Amos Herman, Louis Cohn, $1,200; Henry and Mrs. McMaster, $4,000; Wm. McMasters, $100; H. J. Ayres, $2,000; Jacob Miller, $4,000; M. Schware, $1,000; A. Litchfield, $500; J. G. Reifsnider, $500; R. A, Prior, (barn) $500; Dodge & Cole, $300; R. P. Henry, $3,500; Wright & Freer, $4,500; Batman Brothers, $3,000; John Bakody, $200; Adam Orth, $1,600, Jacob Good, $1,500; Mrs. Sullivan, $100. Total loss, in round numbers, $70,000. Total insurance, $20,000. MR. LOUIS COHN'S NARROW ESCAPE.—During the progress of the fire, Mr. Louis Cohn, occupying apartments in the upper story of the old Trussell Hall block, after getting his family safely out went back to secure some of his valuables, but was so hard pressed by the flames and stifling smoke, that he was obliged to leap from the window to the ground in the alley upon the east side, and in doing so sustained an injury to one of his ankles, from which he never fully recovered. SUMMIT OIL WORKS.—On Thanksgiving morning, November 25, 1860, the oil refinery of John T. Good & Co., in the north part of the city, including the treating, barreling, shipping and receiving houses, with 250 barrels, in process of refining and a large quantity ready for shipment, was destroyed, with a loss of nearly $21,000, and with no insurance. GROCERY AND SALOON—TRIED FOR ARSON.—At 5 o'clock A. M., March 2, 1870, the grocery store and saloon of William Traver, on Washington street, was burned with an alleged loss of $3,900. This property was heavily covered by insurance, and the owner was indicted and tried for arson, but was finally acquitted. SUBSEQUENT FIRES.—August 25, 1871, the Fire Brick Works of Park Alexander, on South Canal street, were burned, at a loss of $5,000, with $3,000 insurance. February 27, 1872, America's pioneer oatmeal mill—the German Mill—established by Mr. Ferd. Schumacher in 1859, near the present hominy works, on North Howard street, was burned with all its machinery and stock, at a loss of $20,000, with but $8,000 insurance. The turning works and hub factory of Sidney H. Bass, on the adjoining lot, north, was also burned at a loss of $500. THE GREAT BEACON OFFICE DISASTER. From the diminutive affair of 1839, with its single hand press, and its score or less fonts of news and job type, all told, in the 340 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. early Spring of 1872 the BEACON establishment was occupying the entire four stories (including basement) 22 x 60 feet (except a small corner on the ground floor occupied by Mr. 0. H. Remington as a jewelry store) at 118 South Howard street, and was then having the building extended through to Canal street, to accommodate its rapidly increasing publishing and manufacturing operations. Filled with valuable machinery and printing materials, stationery, papers, books, etc., on the morning of April 27, 1872, the entire structure, with its contents, evidently the work of an incendiary, was destroyed by fire, with a loss to the company of $23,000 and to the proprietor of the building of $5,000, Mr. Remington also sustaining a loss of about $4,000. The adjoining building on the north, owned by Hiram Allen, the lower floor of which, then, as now, was occupied by J. B. Storer & Co., jewelers, (also considerable losers) was injured to the extent of about $2,000, while in the jewelry store of H. S. Abbey & Co., adjoining on the south, an explosion occurred, probably from an expansion of air through the super-heated wall (the room being kept tightly closed), blowing out the entire glass front and the rear windows, but doing no further very serious damage. The building of G. H. Helfer & Son, north of the Allen block, was also, with stock of drugs, damaged to the amount of about $400. AN IRREPARABLE PUBLIC Loss.—Not only to the BEACON Company itself, but to the public at large, the loss of its newspaper files, almost from the beginning of the county, together with Mr. Lane's private files for ten years, and his large cabinet of curiosities and relics, was an almost irreparable calamity, though through the kindness of friends, in bringing in back numbers, the preservation of a portion of the volumes, by the County Auditor and City Clerk, and the purchase by Mr. Lane from Mr. Hiram Bowen, and shipment from Dakota, some four or five years ago, of the first eight volumes of the BEACON, nearly complete files from April, 1839, to the present time, are available to the historian and antiquarian, and should be preserved with the utmost security and care. ANOTHER CLOSE CALL.—After its total annihilation, April 27th, as above related, the BEACON established temporary quarters in the second and third stories of Cutter & Howe's block, ordering type, cases, paper, etc., by express, immediately resuming the publication of the paper, with its own material, though for a time dependent upon the City Times presses in the matter of printing. On the night of June 28, 1872, the BEACON had another close call, from an undoubtedly incendiary fire in the adjoining building on the north, occupied by Mr. Jonathan Long, as a clothing store; not only destroying the entire stock of clothing, but the entire interior and roof of the building also, besides which the flames crept through the wall, doing considerable damage to paper and other materials in the BEACON office, and also setting fire to the roof of the building. Losses: Long, on clothing, $20,000; Israel Isbell and Charles F. Glasser, on building, $6,000, the latter being wholly and the former about two-thirds covered by insurance. MATHEWS' SPLENDID BLOCK.—At 12 o'clock, on the night of June 30, 1872, the newly reconstructed block, owned by the late James Mathews, was discovered to be on fire in the attic. The lower story was occupied by Beebe & Elkins, books and drugs; Milton H. Hart, cigar store, and Beck & Herman, boots and shoes. AKRON'S LATER FIRES - 341 Second story: Mathews & Son, insurance; Western Union Telemgraph, G. T. Ford, attorney, and for sleeping rooms by William C. Allen, G. T. Ford, A. C. Lohmann, M. H. Hart and Messrs. Beck and Herman. The third floor and large mansard attic were occucpied by Cascade Division, Sons of Temperance. Loss on building $10,000; books and drugs, $5,000; boots and shoes, $5,000; other losses, including the law library of Judge McClure, then in Europe, probably $5,000, making a total of $25,000, and but partially covered by insurance. ANOTHER MIDNIGHT "MYSTERY."—August 22, 1872, at 12 o'clock A. N., the photograph gallery of Mr. J. J. McFadden, near Masonic Temple, was discovered to be on fire, the flames spreading so rapidly that the building was entirely consumed, with an alleged loss of $2,000 and an insurance of $1,000. INCENDIARISM STILL RAMPANT.—At 12:30 A. N., On the morning of August 23, 1872, the barns of Dr. William Bowen and Gen. G. W. McNeil, on the alley between High street and Broadway, were burned at a loss of $300 and $400 to their owners respectively. Incendiary without doubt. At 10:02 A. M., August 23, 1872, a room in the rear of the Y. M. C. A. rooms, in the Academy of Music building, used as a storage room by the Ladies' Relief Committee, was found to be on fire, the impression prevailing that a box of clothing had purposely been ignited by some evilmdisposed person, who had by some means gained access to the room. About this time, also in the day time, a fire was discovered in one of the apartments of Phcenix Block, which could only be accounted for upon the hypothesis of incendiarism. Several transient suspects were arrested, but nothing could be proved against them, and one local suspect was so closely interrogated in regard to his intimate relations to the several fires in question that he incontinently left the city, and has never returned, and for nearly a year and a half the city enjoyed comparative immunity from that class of conflagrations. 1873—RATHER A LIGHT RECORD.—April 30, 1873, the tin and stove store of Wright & Freer, a story and a half frame building, near the north end of the present beautful Arcade Block, South Howard street, with a considerable portion of its contents, was destroyed. Loss on building and stock $2,000. June 10, 1873, the brewery of Fred Oberholtz, on North Forge street, was burned at 3 o'clock A. M. Loss on building and stock, including 1,000 bushels of grain and 13 bales of hops, $13,000; insurance, $5,000. In the cold storage room, in tanks and vats, 15,000 kegs of beer were fortunately, or unfortunately, saved. December 23, 1873, at 1:30 A. N., the two-story frame grocery store of Wm. Fink, corner of South Broadway and Exchange streets, with nearly all its contents, was burned. Loss $5,000, fully insured. THE FIRES OF 1874.—March 2, 1874, for the second time, the Fire Brick works of J. Park Alexander, on Cannal street, greatly .enlarged and improved, was destroyed at a loss of $10,000 with an insurance of but $3,500. The frame building on the north, used by Mr. Alexander as machine repair shop, was saved by the efforts of the firemen, Mr. Alexander the next day presenting the department with a check for $50 for the benefit of the Relief Fund. The three-story brick block belonging to Mr. Arthur Malcolm, 119 342 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Howard street, now occupied by Chandler, Findley & Co., station ers, then occupied by George W. Camp & Son, clothiers and mer chant tailors, was burned at midnight, March 27, 1874. Losses Camp & Son, $12,500; insurance $10,000. Malcolm on building an personal property, $2,500 ; insured. On the night of April 20, in the building owned by A. Eichenlaub, immediately south of th present furniture store of Dodge & Plumer, the office of the Dail Argus, and general job printing works of H. G. Canfield & Co. was burned, the next day the fire taking a fresh start and invol% ing, in partial ruin, the buildings of D. G. Sanford and W. B. & J G. Raymond, (occupied by I. Cohen & Co.) on either side. Losses Canfield & Co., $10,000; Eichenlaub, $6,000; Raymond, $3,500; San ford, building $500, stock, $4,500-total, $24,500, partly covered b insurance, Mr. Canfield's net loss being $3,000. July 29, "The Block," (in an early day known as Rhodes' Hotel) in the Sixt Ward, owned by Samuel Blackie, Michael Murphy and Henr Donohue, and occupied by seven or eight families. Total loss $2,500. September 8, the American House, a large frame hotel, for many years kept by the late Florence Weber, on the east side of North Howard street. Loss $6,000 with $4,000 insurance. Septemccer 11, Excelsior Stoneware works of Shenkel Brothers, on Fountain street. Loss $13,000; insurance $7,000. October 30, Lewis Miller's fine residence, West Side Heights. Loss $12,000. December 15, two-story frame building on the present site of Barber's block, South Howard street, owned and occupied as a clothing store by Simon Joseph. Loss $2,000. THE DISASTERS OF 1875.-April 18, the dwelling house of Washmington Martin, Akron's veteran barber, 102 James street. Loss $2,000. June 13, the carriage works and blacksmith shop of Harp-ham Brothers, Sixth Ward. Loss $5,000. Loss to ten or twelve customers 'whose buggies were being repaired, painted, etc., $1,000. August 12, dwelling house of Theron A. Noble, corner Ash and Bowery streets. Loss $6,000. August 20, (Sunday) bone-dust and fertilizer factory of Leopold & Hedeman, foot of Sherbondy hill, north of Wooster avenue. Loss about $4,000 with no insurance. 1876—EPIDEMIC INCENDIARISM.-February 13, dwelling house of Ambrose L. Cotter, junction of East Market and Middlebury streets. Loss $4,000. Accidental. On the night of April 28, about 9 o'clock, a small building connected with the cooper-shop of C. B. Maurer, corner of Church street and Quarry alley and extending around to High street. Being of the most inflammable material, the entire establishment was at once enveloped in flames, which were soon communicated to the carriage works of C. A. Collins & Son, upon the west, the dwelling house of Mr. John Prier, on the east, as well as to several buildings on the north side of Church street, which were all destroyed, with nearly all their contents. Losses: C. B. Maurer, $10,000; Collins, $14,000; John Prier, $2,500; D. A. Scott, barn, etc., $1,000; Berg & Koch, groceries, $1,000; sundry tenants, $500. On the same night the pottery works of W. B. Gamble & Co., in the Sixth Ward, were burned with a loss of from $2,000 to $3,000. Two days later, on Sunday, April 30, between two and three o'clock P. M., the box and variety works of Baker & McMillen, west of canal, on Bowery street, were totally destroyed, at a loss of $5,000, immediately followed by the burning of the office and lumber in the yard of S. N. Wilson, east of postoffice, $400, and AKRON'S LATER FIRES - 343 directly afterwards by a stubborn fire in the basement of the rake factory, immediately north of the jail, with a loss to Col. Simon Perkins, owner of the building, of $500, and an additional loss to Collins & Son, on property removed thither from their own burning- building, of $100. CAPTURE OF THE INCENDIARIES.—Three days later the barn of Matthew Shouler, on Water street, was burned at a loss of $375, and on the same, night two young men, James Peck and George Bates, alias "Scottie" Moore, were arrested on suspicion of being the incendiaries. Both were indicted, tried and convicted, the first being sentenced to four, and the latter, three, years in the penitentiary. A short time afterwards, five boys ranging from 15 to 17 years, William Langendorf, Frank Glatthar, George Kimpflin, Charles Ley and Jacob L. Steinel, were arrested and indicted for causing the several other rapidly succeeding fires above alluded to. George Kimpflin, on trial was acquitted ; Langendorf and Ley forfeited their bonds, $500 each ; and Glatthar and Steinel were convicted and each sentenced to five years imprisonment. The lesson though severe, was wholesome, not only to the boys implicated but to other mischievously inclined youngsters, not to allow their fun-loving propensities to run in so dangerous a direction. On the night of October .31, 1876, Sumner's Opera House and Hotel, corner of North Howard and Tallmadge streets, were consumed with an alleged loss of $65,000 with a partial insurance only. 1877—RECORD COMPARATIVELY LIGHT.—The Fire Department report 39 fires in 1877, with an aggregate loss of $77,135, and an aggregate insurance of $43,075, One of the most serious fires of the year, occurred on the night of May 3rd, occasioned by the breaking of a lamp in the basement of L. H. Limbert & Son's furniture store, 130, 132 and 134 North Howard street. The building, two stories in front and three stories in the rear, with its entire contents, was consumed, and also the two-story building of John Robb, 128, and the one-story building of P. D. and Orlando Hall, 124 and 126—the barns of Limbert and Robb in the rear, with considerable damage to other nearby buildings. Losses reported ; Limbert, $4,000 on building, $13,000 on stock, and $800 on barn, with $7,000 insurance ; Robb, $3,000 on stock, $2,000 on store and barn, with $1,720 insurance ; Hall, loss, $1,000, insurance $500; other losses $400. August 27, the planing mill of Miller & Kratz (now Thomas Lumber Co.) west of Canal, was burned, at a loss to the proprietors on building, machinery and material, of $25,000, and an insurance of $10,500. Mr. D. A. James, manufacturer of office and church furniture, etc., occupying the second story, also suffered a loss of $1,200 with no insurance. October 17, agricultural warehouse of Mr. David S. Alexander, on Canal street (now electric light station) was consumed with a loss of from $10,000 to $12,000. Insurance on building $2,000, on contents $6,000. 1878—FEW FIRES—HEAVY LOSSES.—There were twentymseven alarms during the year, with losses aggregating $172,161, and an aggregate insurance of $102,651. May 31, saloon and dwelling house of William Doren, corner Mill and High streets. Loss, $1,500; insurance, $3,000. The most formidable fire of the season 344 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. occurred at 1:30 o'clock on the morning of June 18th, when Commerce block, belonging to Mr. Jacob Good, and the Academy of Music, belonging to Mr. John F. Seiberling, were destroyed, with a loss to Mr. Seiberling of $50,000, with $18,000 insurance only, Mr. Good's loss being $40,000, insured for $33,000. The two store rooms in Commerce block were occupied respectively by Mr. A. C. Lohmann, with millinery goods, and Mr. John Sebring, with general dry goods; the second story as the office of the Western Union Telegraph Company, sleeping room of Mr. William C. Allen, etc. The first floor of the Academy of Music building was occupied by the Bank of Akron, and Auble, Brown & Co., dry goods; the secmond floor by Upson, Ford & Baird, Foster, Marvin & Grant, and S. W. McClure, attorneys, Allen & Bock, insurance, and others, the basement by William Besnecker, billiard room and saloon. The fire originated in the store room of Mr. John Sebring—a new-comer to Akron— and as it began with a loud explosion, and as it was soon learned that there was a heavy insurance upon the stock, it was believed that Mr. Sebring, leaving one jet burning, had purposely turned on all the other burners, thus naturally causing ignition in all parts of the nearly air-tight room, as soon as it should become filled with the escaping vapor. The indignation of the people was intense, for a time nearly reaching the lynching point. Mr. Sebring was arrested for arson, and lodged in jail, but exhibiting duplicate bills of purchase to a larger amount than the insurance thereon, he was not proceeded against, though there were still many who believed there was something crooked about the transaction. Losses to tenants were: Lohmann (one-third of stock saved $8,000, insured; Sebring $16,000 to $18,000; insurance $14,000; Western Union $400 to $500, no insurance; W. C. Allen, furniture, carpets, library, etc., $1,500, insurance $1,000; Auble, Brown & Co., goods mostly removed, loss light; Bank of Akron, furniture mostly removed, books, papers, money, etc., in vault, intact; Besnecker, loss $2,500, insurance $1,500; contents of offices, in Academy of Music, mostly removed, miscellaneous losses being about 31,000. August 31, dwelling house of Hugh McFarland, 306 Perkins street. Loss $2,000; no insurance. November 5, Leopold's Block, South Akron. Loss $1,100; insurance $8,500. December 24, pottery of Gamble & Morton, Sixth Ward. Loss $2,000; insurance, $1,600. 1879—LOSSES LIGHT.—For the year 1879 there were 39 alarms; total value of property imperiled, $237,475; total insurance, $81,750; total losses, $18,388.61. March 4, Buchtel College—fire in attic, supposed by sparks from chimney. Loss $5,610. Insured. June 20, brewery of Burkhardt & Gaessler, Sherman street. Loss $3,300. Insured. July 1, Catharine Nehr, dwelling and saloon, corner Exchange and Pearl. Loss $1,100. Insured. November 5, office L. G. Thorp, 118 North Howard street. Loss $2,000. No insurance. November 11, three-story brick drug store of J. A. Byrider, 218 East. Market street. Loss $1,419.60. Insured. 1880—LOSSES LIGHTER STILL.—There were 50 alarms in 1880, the total losses, out of an aggregate insurance of $52,125, being but $12,503.70, those of $1,000 and upwards being as follows: March 25, slipmshop of Whitmore, Robinsons & Co., Sixth Ward. $1,300. May 11, factory of G. Eberhard & Co., junction of Exchange and Carroll AKRON'S LATER FIRES - 345 streets, $3,426.44. July 3, livery stable of John Wilson, Sixth Ward, $2,000. August 1, brick brewery of Fred. Horix, North Forge street, $2,454. 1881-LOSSES PROPORTIONATELY LIGHT. - Total number of alarms during the year 52. Losses on $138,465, insurance only 17,430, the more important being as follows: February 17, Congregational Church, South High street. Damage to building and fixtures, $4,667. February 22, factory of Baker & McMillen, west of anal near Ash street bridge, $1,300. July 30, frame dwelling house of F. Horix, North Forge street, struck by lightning; $1,600. September 28, frame planing mill of Weary, Snyder, Wilcox Manufacturing Company. Damage to building and stock, $2,940. 1882-SLIGHT INCREASE OF LOSSES.-In 1882 there were 45 alarms and out of a total insurance of $156,700 a total loss of $37,636.45, apportioned as follows: February 28, frame dwelling house of Rev. T. E. Monroe, 124 South Broadway. Damage $1,300. March 22, planing mill of W. B. Doyle & Co., junction Howard and Main streets, $5,000. August .14, City Mill, West Market street, unoccupied, the property of Gen. Philo Chamberlin, of Cleveland. Alleged loss, $20,000, fully insured and well sold. Rinner & Lapp, coopers, loss on barrels stored in warehouse, $1,120. October 8, pottery of Knapp & Whitsell, east of Fountain street; $6,650. 1883-CALLS NUMEROUS-LOSSES HEAVY.-There were 54 alarms. in 1883, with a total loss of $164,155, the principal sufferers being: March 7, the clothing house of Hopfman & Moss. Loss on building $700, contents $16,000. Fully insured. March 25, Carter & Steward, oat meal mill, South Main street, building and machinery $2'2,750, contents $17,250. Partially insured only. June 4, confectionery store of Andrews & Brenizer, 104 South Howard street; loss on contents $1,370. E. W. Howard, on building, $638. Fully insured. December 16, strawboard works of J. F. Seiberling & Co., Sixth Ward, building and machinery, $25,000; contents $8,000, insurance $5,744. December 31, McNeil & Baldwin, /Etna Mill, 3each street, building $16,000, contents $49,000, insurance $32,422. 1884-COMPARATIVELY MODERATE.-The total number of calls as 58, and the total losses but $51,448, the more important being s follows: April 24, the Mathews block, 114 to 118 South Howard treet, lower story, basement and part of second story, occupied by J. Koch & Co., clothiers. Loss on stock $28,997, building $1,575; ully insured. May 29, Stinehour block, and saloon building of Felix O'Neil, West Market street. Losses on buildings $3,326, contents $2,680; fully insured. June 18, dwelling house Eli ocker, 176 Balch street, $1,000. August 5, one-story frame buildings, west side of South Howard street, 170 to 184, east side 171 to 91, occupied by James Derrig as a liquor store, and others. osses on buildings $3,145, contents $2,013; fully insured. 1885. THE LIGHTEST LOSSES YET. -Though there were 55 alarms in 1885, the total losses were only $19,977, those aggregating $1,000 and upwards being as follows: March 9, Mrs. Mary M. Stephens, dwelling house, 505 South Broadway. Loss $1,400, no insurance. April 11, saloon of Otto Waelde, Old Forge. Loss ,200, insurance, $1,200. April 23, Haushalter & Tissot, jewelers, South Howard street. Loss on stock $2,800, building (Henry 346 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Motz) $1.080, insured. September 25, J. Park Alexander, Fire Brick Works, South Canal street. Loss on building and contents, $4,200. Insured. 1886. PROLIFIC FIRES-HEAVY LOSSES.-There were 65 alarms in 1886, and an aggregate loss of $680,825, and an aggregate insurance of $325,533. The first serious calamity of the year was the destruction of the mammoth oat meal plant of Mr. Ferd. Shumacher, on Mill, Broadway and Summit streets, on the night of March 6. The total loss on the several buildings destroyed, including their contents, over and above insurance, was about $600,000. May 17, Miller Chain Works and Match Factory, Rubber street. Loss $12,000. Insurance light. October 23, Greenhouse of Bert T. Wills, Park Place. Loss on building $1,000; contents $1,500, no insurance. December 31, Empire Harvester Works of J. F. Seiberling & Co., south of Mill street, east of railroad. Boiler explosion and burning of building. Loss on building $10,000, con tents, $3,000, insurance recovered $4,415. William Brown, 17-yearold son of James Brown, 121 Arch street, was killed and several others seriously wounded by the explosion. 1887. INCREASED CALLS-DIMINISHED LOSSES.-Total calls 8S - total losses $41,918 on an aggregate insurance of $308,855. April 7, dwelling house of John Howe, north of city limits $1,800, insurance paid $950. May 30, Lewis Miller, dwelling house, Oak Place; loss on building $1,200, contents $200. Insured. October 18, two-story frame building, three stores on South Main street, building, G. Eberhard $1,585; insurance $1,280. Loss on contents $1,690, insurance paid $790. November 19, cooper-shop of J. F. Seiberling Milling Co., Sixth Ward. Loss $8.000, covered by insurance. November 27, livery stable, George Wulle, corner of North Main and Tallmadge streets. Loss on building $2,000, contents $2,7( insurance paid $4,000. December 3, Miller Match Works, Rubber street. Loss on building $2,500, contents $4,000; insurance paid $5,000. 1888--SLIGHTLY INCREASED LOSSES.The alarms for 1888, were 67, with $46,064 losses on $172,697 insurance. May 8, Enterprise Works of E. F. Pfleuger, Ash street. Loss on building, $170; contents $4,530; covered by insurance. May 12, Packing House of Jacob Brodt, 616 to 620 South Main street. Loss on building $1,844.50, contents $1,472.14, fully insured. July 22, Carpet Store, William H. Diehl & Co., 219 and 221 East Market street. Loss on stock $2,700, insurance $2,500; loss on building, M. H. Crumrine, $574, covered by insurance. August 3, Varnish Works of Kubler & Beck, struck by lightning. Loss on building $2,300, insured for $1,300; contents $11,500; insurance $9,300. September 5, Stables of Summit County Agricultural Society, Fountain Park Fair Grounds. Loss to Society $1,000, no insurance. Three valuable horses belonging respectively to A. G. Eves, of Akron, ($2,000) parties in Michigan, ($500) and J. H. Carey, of Bedford, (value not stated) were destroyed in this fire, which, in the terse report of the department was caused by "whiskey." October 8, enameling house of Baker, McMillen & Co., Ash and Bowery streets, by explosion of oven. Loss on building $2,500, insurance $2,820; contents $4,5(X), insurance $3,002.80. December 15, stable of Thomas W. McCue, East Mill street; building $950, insurance paid $550; contents, including a valuable horse, $811; insurance paid $488. AKRON'S LATER FIRES - 347 1889. INCREASED CALLS-HEAVIER LOSSES.-There were 82 alarms in 1889, with a total loss of $293,173 on a total insurance of $311,717. Losses exceeding $1,000 as follows: January 4, John Wilson's livery stable, Sixth ward. Loss on building $2,181 . 80, contents, including two horses $3,795.72; insurance paid $5,973.22. February 25, Summit City Oil Company's warehouse, near union depot. Loss $3,000, no insurance. April 7, David P. Kidwell, Carroll street, dwelling. Loss on house $1,200, contents $350, insurance paid $800. May 3, James Christy-tenement block, South Howard street. Loss on building $500, contents $2,200; insurance paid $1,307.12. May 7, Lewis Miller, Oak Place, barn. Loss on building $2,500, contents, $500. May 9, Foltz & Frank, jewelry store, South Howard street. Loss on building $500, on contents $6,100; fully insured. July 22, William Poole, Thornton street, bakery. Loss on building $3,300, contents $1,362; insurance paid $2,625. July 28, J. M. Flickinger, Irvin street, paint shop. Loss on building $150, contents $850; insurance paid $850. September 4, Akron Stoneware Company, Sixth ward. Loss on building $850, contents $2,100; insurance paid $2,700. October 29, O'Neil & Dyas' store, South Main street. Loss on building $41,000, contents $177,000; insurance paid $109,000. J. Whitelaw, Howard street. Loss on building $2,500, contents, J. W. Little, $4,000; insurance paid $3,870; estate, Jacob Allen. Loss on building $582 . 75, contents, Good & Co., $650; insurance paid $1,194; J. K. Simmons, loss on building $1500, contents $2,000; insurance paid $2,800; Clapsaddle estate, Loss on building $3,250, contents, Tiger Hat Store, $3,250; Lamparter & Pfeiffer, drugs $120.50; T. H. Wolfram, photographer, $3,700; E. B. Cahoon, $750; A. L. Dyke, $285; H. W. Moss, $285; Akron Electric Co., $800; total insurance paid $10,841.83. November 6, Bert T. Wills, Park Place, greenhouse. Loss on building $1,700, contents $2,200; insurance paid $990. December 28, Budd & Lowrey, Sixth ward, machine shop. Loss on building $3,000, contents $3,500; insurance paid $3,388.50. 1890-CALLS STILL MORE NUMEROUS-LOSSES LIGHTER.-Total alarms 118; total losses $109,104 on total insurance of $466,600. Losses exceeding $1000: January 7, Alfred M. Barber, brick block, corner Howard and Cherry streets, loss $10,200; John Motz, adjoining building on the north, $1,800; contents, Myers & Polsky, dry goods, $34,000; Weeks & Kingsbury, crockery, $4,000; Buckley Post, G. A. R., $1;500; Woman's Relief Corps, $500; Sons of Veterans, -100; J. V. Welsh, $48; J. M. Poulson; $625; John Mack $400,-total losses $52,225 ; total insurance paid $41,128. May 8, William Schroeder, brick block, South Howard street, building $1,700; contents, Stanton & Son, photograph gallery, $1,300; insurance paid $2,800. June 4, Akron Paper Mill, West Exchange street, building, $550; contents, 4000; insurance paid $3,550. Livery stable, West Exch a nge street, F. Schumacher, building, $1,616.85; John T. Adkins, contents, $4,900, insurance paid $5,065 .86. July 19, Patrick T. McCourt, Wabash avenue, barn-building,$1,100; contents, $400, insurance paid $1,115. August 16, Akron Iron Co., South High street, building $500; conctents $1,072.80; insurance paid $1,572.80. October 4, H. E. Merrill, South Main street, building $125, contents, C. Rheinhold, $650; Currycomb Co., $1,100; insurance paid $1,520. November 2, Morgan Boiler Co., south of city limits, building, $4,500, contents, $8,000, insurance paid $5,500. December 10, R. Thomas, corner Broadway 348 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. and Thornton streets, building, $314; contents, $700; insuranc paid $788.46. THE SUMMING UP. It has not been attempted, in this sketch, to give all the fire that have occurred in Akron, in the sixty-six years of its existence but only the more prominent, few being included where the losse were under one thousand dollars, and, in the absence of full reli able records, it is quite probable that some of even the more import ant early fires have been overlooked. But enough has been given to show the immense sacrifice which the people of Akron have made to the Great Moloch, a considerable proportion of the sufferers, too, being victims to th cupidity and rascality of their immediate neighbors. Yet as great as has been the pecuniary sacrifice by fire, during the period written of, the physical sacrifice, if it could be computed by dolla and cents, would be found to be still greater, for it must be remembered that, until within the past twenty-five years, every drop o water drawn from well, cistern, canal or creek, and thrown upo a fire in Akron, had to be done by an almost equal expenditure o human sweat and muscle, with no extrinsic aid of steam o hydraulic Pressure, and that, too, at the imminent peril of health limb and even life itself, for a true diagnosis would trace man a fatal disease, and long years of physical suffering, among old volunteer firemen, to exposure and over-exertion, in fighting th devouring element with the old crank or brake machines herei described. Referring to the records of the Fire Department, from 1878 to 1890, both years inclusive., it is found that in the thirteen years, 7 runs were made by the department, that out of a total insurance, on property imperiled, of $2,702,314 (full value probably $3,500,000, the aggregate loss was $1,619,965. Though there is now no available record, it is safe to estimate the previous average yearly fires at twenty, or 1100 for the 55 years, and as the losses herein given during that time, foot up considerably more than a million, estimating the minor losses, not given, at $300,000, we have an aggregate loss of $3,796,191. It is proper to remark, in closing, that while Akron's earl Volunteer Fire Companies, with their hand drawn and hand-worked, crank and brake engines, and other primitive apparatus are entitled to every possible meed of praise, for their untiring, unselfish and unrequited labors, in saving the property of their neighbors from destruction, modern horse and steam drive appliances, with the present thoroughly organized, well house carefully drilled and liberally paid department, aided by its instantaneous alarm devices, and the improved hydraulic advantage which the city water works afford, very materially diminishes th risks with a far less percentage of loss, in proportion to value, o the property imperiled, by its ability to promptly extinguish, o circumscribe the limits of, the innumerable fires, that, in a city the size and character of Akron, must inevitably constantly occur In short, though somewhat expensive, the present excellent depart ment, pays the cost of its maintenance, yearly, many thousand fold. PRESENT STATUS OF DEPARTMENT - 349 The Fire Department, in charge of Chief B. F. Manderbach, d Mechanical Engineer Frank F. Loomis, is now (August, 1891) follows: STATION No. 1: corner High and Church streets ; equipped with one second size Ahrens steamer; one two-horse hose carriage; one two-horse hook and ladder truck, and 1,200 feet of best quality of white anchor -hose, with the following roster: Engineer, Frank F. Loomis; fireman,Chas. E. Hibbard; driver of steamer, John Zimmercman; driver of ladder truck, Nicholas Wilhelm; tillerman, Warren Snyder; driver of hose carriage, Charles Tryon; pipemen, Frank Rice, Andrew Boehmler, and Charles Jost; with twelve call hosemen and three call steamer men. STATION No 2: Corner East Market and East Exchange streets, (Sixth ward), one third size Silsby engine, one two-horse hose carriage, and 1,100 feet of hose; James Dunn, engineer; GusRyan, fireman; George Head, driver of steamer; Harry Wilson, driver of hose carriage ; Charles Smith, pipeman; five tall hosemen; two call steamer men. STATDON No. 3: Myrtle Place, Third ward; one twomhorse hose carriage, and 1,000 feet of hose; John Denious and George D. Felton, pipemen ; Nathaniel P. Smith, driver of hose carriage; three call hosemen. STATION No. 4: Corner South Main and Fair streets, Fourth ward, one third size Button engine, one two-horse hose carriage, and 1,200 feet of hose; Charles Y. Criss, engineer; Frank A. Myers, fireman; Peter J. Hohman, driver of steamer; Abe L. Eberly, driver of hose carriage; John T. Mertz, pipeman ; five call hosemen, and two call steamer men. Fourth Ward: