1877, December 20 – Tobacco Barn Burns

 $6,000 blaze! Our citizens were thrown into a frenzy of excitement on Sat. afternoon last at about 2 o’clock by the cry of “fire!” It was soon discovered that the large tobacco barn of the Messrs. Goodall & Campbell, situated on the north-east corner of Van Buren and Union streets was the seat of the fire. Continue reading

1875, June 25 – Bloomington Chair Factory Burns

 On last Sunday morning about 3 o’clock the building used as a store room for the Bloomington Chair Factory took fire and in less than an hour was burned to the ground. It was impossible to save the burning building, and all the efforts of the fire department were turned to saving the contiguous buildings with good effect. Continue reading