July 1907 Fire
Three buildings were damaged by a fire started by a firework on July 4, 1907. The fire started around 7 p.m. in the "Theatorium" motion picture building and spread to the Hale's Tours of the World exhibit, destroying it completely. It then spread to the Photographic Gallery, rendering it useless.[1] The firefighters couldn't cross the bridge due to safety concerns but were able to save other structures, including the Dancing Pavilion, Figure Eight ride, and Cromwell Dixon's sky-cycle,[2] once around the ravine with the water from the Old Mill ride. The damage cost more than $5,000$170,992 in 2025 dollars - $2,500$85,496 in 2025 dollars for the motion picture building, $3,000$102,595 in 2025 for the Tours of the World building, and $200$6,840 in 2025 dollars for the Photographic Gallery - and was one of the many fires that night and the largest. Three children, Carrie, 15, Annie, 11, and Joe, 8, children of John Moulliett and his wife, were watching a film when the fire started. Joe led his sisters to safety in pure darkness and suffocating smoke. An unknown man took them home after a frantic search by their mother. The fire was started by a firecracker thrown onto the tar roof. High-voltage power lines snapped and dropped to the ground, threatening parkgoers and shutting down power throughout the park. By 9 p.m., the park was back up and running.[3][4]
Buildings Destroyed
References
- ↑ "Olentangy Park Fire Not Destructive." The Marion Daily Mirror (Marion, Ohio). July 29, 1907. Page 8.
- ↑ "An Airship Will Sail From Tuscora Park, Next Week Cromwell Dixon to Make Three Flights." The Daily Times (New Philadelphia, Ohio). Aug. 8, 1907. Page 2.
- ↑ "Fire Department Kept on the Run." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 5, 1907. Page 15.
- ↑ "Boy Leads His Two Sisters Out of a Fire at Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 5, 1907. Page 13.