Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Fire Destroys Nine Buildings In Shippensburg

On May 6, 1885 at 12:15 a.m. an alarm of fire was sounded in Shippensburg. Firemen soon learned the location of the alarm was in the alley between Penn Street and Normal Avenue near the Presbyterian Church. The blaze began in the stable of S.S. Wolfe and had already spread to adjacent stables before firemen arrived. Firemen from the Vigilant and Cumberland Valley Fire companies performed noble service but a strong breeze continued to spread the flames rapidly. The Vigilant engine secured water at the cistern near the Council House and the Cumberland Valley engine got their water from a well near Penn and Main Streets. Both water supplies were far enough away to require firemen to use most of their hose reaching the blaze.

Firemen were able to gain control of the blaze but not before it destroyed nine stables, a butcher shop and the old Seceder Church (then occupied by I.C. Diehl’s net factory, and also known as the "White Church").


It was believed that the blaze was incendiary in origin and damages were estimated at $6,000. The blaze again caused the local newspapers to call for a water system in Shippensburg. A reward of $50 was offered for the apprehension of the people responsible for the fire.

2 comments:

Sparky said...

Just wondering how many of these old cisterns are still out there and how many have been filled in?

Brad Myers said...

There may be a few left but I have to believe that many were filled in and covered over. In the 1800's there was many of these and until the borough installed the water works they were the main source of water for firefighting.