Stoughton Historic Downtown Fires - Eight Business Places Destroyed

From the Hub 9-20-1889, fire was 9-15-1889: 

"Half a block gone, disastrous fire Sunday morning, total loss about $36,000 "Eight Business Places Destroyed - A Heavy Shower Comes to the Rescue - Noble work by the Fire Department. The fire fiend has paid us another visit.  At about two o'clock Sunday morning fire was discovered in the rear of A. Erickson's furniture store and Halvor Rinden's saloon adjoining.  The alarm was immediately given, and the fire department responded in a very short time; but the flames had already gained considerable headway and were made all the more stubborn by a brisk wind from the southwest.  

In spite of the heroic efforts of the firemen, the flames rapidly spread and in an incredible brief time the clothing store of O. Hellickson and the saloons of C. Christopherson, Ole Jacobson and Anderson & Torgeson, on the east, were a mass of ruins.  The fire had by this time reached the drug store of O.O. Melaas on the west, and it certainly looked as if this whole block would have to go.  The wind was carrying burning embers in all directions and several times the buildings on the opposite side of the street caught fire from them.  

Just at this time - the most critical moment - a heavy shower set in, which was undoubtedly the saviour of the greater portion of the business part of the city . . .  The State Bank, and in fact, nearly all the buildings in the immediate vicinity were in great danger of being destroyed and came in for their share of attention from the energetic firemen."

     Stoughton Hub 9-20-1889

© Stoughton Historical Society 

Photo taken shortly after rebuilding, approximately 1890-1892

See the Historic Main Street Walking Tour at Stoughton Landmark Commission or visit their website:  https://www.stoughtonlandmarks.org/main-street   
This row now has addresses 139 thru 195 East Main Street

"The downtown's cohesive appearance reflects, in part, the influence of a single builder, George Becker, who constructed most of the largest commercial blocks.  A German immigrant and brick mason, Becker came to Stoughton in 1882.  After a fire in 1889 destroyed a row of wooden structures, he rebuilt much of Main Street."
Used with permission of Society of Architectural Historians.  Read More.