May 1, 1905: ORANGE GROVE, MD – The largest flouring mills in the state, which were alongside the tracks of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad about 10 miles from Baltimore, were destroyed by an early-morning fire. Flames leaped from the huge mill structures that had the capacity of more than 1,500 barrels a day, and spread to the railway station and several adjoining dwellings. Collapsing walls covered the train tracks for several hours and cut off all telegraph lines.
May 1, 1905: CHEMNITZ, GERMANY – The castle of Count Bitzthum von Eichstadt was gutted by a fire that also destroyed many valuable paintings and historical items. The 350-year-old castle was built by Knight Hermann von Harras and had a value of several million marks.
May 2, 1905: JERSEY CITY, NJ – Just after closing, a fire broke out in the foundry of the huge Fagan Iron Works on Thirteenth Street. Flames spread quickly from the foundry to storehouses and a pattern shop. The entire plant, valued at $500,000, was destroyed.
May 5, 1905: ST. LOUIS – Six racehorses were burned and 12 stables were destroyed by a fire at the St. Louis Fair Association’s racetrack. The first fire started just after midnight, killing three horses. Two hours later, a second fire broke out claiming the lives of three more horses. When the second fire started, the stable doors were thrown open and 215 racehorses stampeded to safety. They were all rounded up safely by noon. Neither fire was termed suspicious.
May 7, 1905: READING, PA – The New York Times reported that while members of rival volunteer fire companies were fighting, a fire gained headway and destroyed $40,000 of lumber belonging to the Bonbaker Co. The Liberty and Reading hose companies reached the fire in ample time to put out the blaze, but got into a squabble over possession of a water plug. For 20 minutes, the trouble went on while the flames gained. The second and third alarms brought two reserve companies and a wagonload of police. The reserves put out the fire while the police clubbed the firemen.
May 21, 1905: WILKES-BARRE, PA – Fire destroyed the Welles Building on the west side of the public square. The building was one of the most valuable structures in the neighborhood. The fire was discovered in the millinery section of a department store on the building’s second floor and was controlled by firemen in less than an hour. A second fire in the basement started about an hour later and was battled by firemen all afternoon. The first fire was believed to have been caused by an electrical short on the second floor and the second fire by water from the first fire causing a flash in a large dynamo in the basement that ignited flammables stored nearby.
May 23, 1905: NEW YORK CITY – A fire that started in a pile of garbage in a Harlem tenement’s dumbwaiter shaft shot up the shaft while most of the tenants, unaware of the flames, ate dinner. As the fire reached the cockloft, smoke and heat banked down and quickly trapped numerous families. Most of the tenants of the 127th Street building were able to leave by fire escape, while several members of the Jager family were trapped on the top floor and were rescued by firemen.
May 27, 1905: POINT PLEASANT, NJ – Despite the efforts of the fire department’s chemical engine, a fire that was through the roof on arrival destroyed the huge Stratford-By-The-Sea summer hotel. Mutual aid from Manasquan helped protect nearby exposure buildings.
Paul Hashagen, a Firehouse® contributing editor, is a retired FDNY firefighter who was assigned to Rescue Company 1 in Manhattan. He is also an ex-chief of the Freeport, NY, Fire Department. Hashagen is the author of FDNY 1865-2000: Millennium Book, a history of the New York City Fire Department, and other fire service history books.
