Photographs from the Morehouse & Wells Fire

Photographs from the Morehouse & Wells Fire

Fires
Photo File: Fires
Decatur IL
1909

Several photographs from the August 22, 1909 Morehouse & Wells fire that took out nearly a block of downtown Decatur businesses. The fire started in the Morehouse & Wells building on East Main and destroyed half the block bounded by Merchant, Prairie, Water and East Main St. The fire was thought to have originated in the elevator shaft of Morehouse and Wells and quickly spread from that building to the surrounding buildings. In total, twenty-one business buildings were destroyed and nearly forty offices were destroyed, including the Shade-Lokey Shoe Store, Hirsch and Elwood & Handlin stores, Rodgers & Clark store, and the Bachrach Building. From the time the fire was discovered to the time the fire was completely extinguished seven hours and forty-five minutes elapsed. The estimated total damage to commercial business was $1,000,000. The fire brought out a lot of interested crowds, including an estimated 20,000 out of town visitors. This was one of the largest fires to occur in Decatur.

Herald and Review
J. K. Stafford
International Stereograph Co.

Photo File: Fires

Herald and Review
Decatur Public Library, Decatur IL

8/22/1909

Herald and Review
Mr. and Mrs. Jack French

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.jpg
600 dpi

English

Photograph

FR46-FR74

Fires, Photo File: Fires, Decatur IL, 1909

Photograph

7.75 x 10"
5 x 8"
5.5 x 8"
6 x 8"
4 x 8"
4.75 x 6"
4.5 x 6"
7.5 x 9.75"
2.5 x 8"
4.5 x 8"
5.5 x 6.5"
3.5 x 5"
4.5 x 7"