Midway Fire of 1911: Difference between revisions
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On July 16, 1911, a fire destroyed five (or seven<ref name="oakland">"Fire Causes Panic." ''Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California),'' July 17, 1911. Page 5.</ref>) attractions along the Midway at Olentangy Park, including the [[Ye Olde Mill (First)|Ye Old Mill]], [[The Destruction of Johnstown]], the Penny Arcade, [[Dear Old Coney Island]], and the [[Temple of Mirth]]. Park management and the fire department believed the fire was intentionally caused, and incendiaries were used. The loss was estimated to be $15,000 to $50,000 ($496,642 to $1,655,474 in 2024). Two other fires were also found and extinguished the same evening.<ref>Photographs, ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref> | On July 16, 1911, a fire destroyed five (or seven<ref name="oakland">"Fire Causes Panic." ''Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California),'' July 17, 1911. Page 5.</ref>) attractions along the Midway at Olentangy Park, including the [[Ye Olde Mill (First)|Ye Old Mill]], [[The Destruction of Johnstown]], the Penny Arcade, [[Dear Old Coney Island]], and the [[Temple of Mirth]]. Park management and the fire department believed the fire was intentionally caused, and incendiaries were used. The loss was estimated to be $15,000 to $50,000 ($496,642 to $1,655,474 in 2024). Two other fires were also found and extinguished the same evening.<ref>Photographs, ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref> | ||
Two men, J. Andrews, 87, and Earnest Parsons, 19, were slightly burned that night when a fire broke out around 9:!5 p.m. in the Old Mill attraction. The fire was believed to have been ignited from a discarded cigarette or incendiary. They were on the second floor of the building when they panicked and jumped, landing on the steps below, which were already burning. They were taken to the Protestant hospital. Andrews could walk home after treatment, but Parsons's injuries were worse. Although rumors were spread that several people were injured and died, manager Dusenbury and the fire department believed they were the only injuries, and no one died. | Two men, J. Andrews, 87, and Earnest Parsons, 19, were slightly burned that night when a fire broke out around 9:!5 p.m. in the Old Mill attraction. The fire was believed to have been ignited from a discarded cigarette or incendiary. They were on the second floor of the building when they panicked and jumped, landing on the steps below, which were already burning. They were taken to the Protestant hospital. Andrews could walk home after treatment, but Parsons's injuries were worse. Although rumors were spread that several people were injured and died, manager Dusenbury and the fire department believed they were the only injuries, and no one died.<ref name="arson">"Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' July 17, 1911. Page 1.</ref> However, some other publications reported seven people were injured and at least 1,000 people fled in panic.<ref name="oakland" /> | ||
It was possibly arson due to other fires around the park that night. A band member discovered one of the other fires in one of the theater boxes at 6:30 p.m. and extinguished it with a chemical. However, State Fire Marshal Zuber investigated the fire and didn't think it was arson due to there being a large crowd on a Sunday night.<ref>"Olentangy Park Fire Not Work of Arsonist." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' July 18, 1911. Page 3.</ref> | It was possibly arson due to other fires around the park that night. A band member discovered one of the other fires in one of the theater boxes at 6:30 p.m. and extinguished it with a chemical. However, State Fire Marshal Zuber investigated the fire and didn't think it was arson due to there being a large crowd on a Sunday night.<ref>"Olentangy Park Fire Not Work of Arsonist." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' July 18, 1911. Page 3.</ref> | ||
The destroyed buildings were frame structures, and most of them were lined with burlap. The firefighters arrived too late to save the five buildings but were able to save the Dancing Pavilion, which was only partially burned. Its survival is partially attributed to its steel frame. The water damaged the dance floor. Manager Dusenbury said the buildings were not insured. Events for the week were not canceled.<ref | The destroyed buildings were frame structures, and most of them were lined with burlap. The firefighters arrived too late to save the five buildings but were able to save the Dancing Pavilion, which was only partially burned. Its survival is partially attributed to its steel frame. The water damaged the dance floor. Manager Dusenbury said the buildings were not insured. Events for the week were not canceled.<ref name="arson" /> | ||
The debris of the destroyed buildings was cleaned up by July 22.<ref>"Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' July 22, 1911. Page 10.</ref> | The debris of the destroyed buildings was cleaned up by July 22.<ref>"Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' July 22, 1911. Page 10.</ref> | ||
Revision as of 03:18, 10 September 2024
On July 16, 1911, a fire destroyed five (or seven[1]) attractions along the Midway at Olentangy Park, including the Ye Old Mill, The Destruction of Johnstown, the Penny Arcade, Dear Old Coney Island, and the Temple of Mirth. Park management and the fire department believed the fire was intentionally caused, and incendiaries were used. The loss was estimated to be $15,000 to $50,000 ($496,642 to $1,655,474 in 2024). Two other fires were also found and extinguished the same evening.[2]
Two men, J. Andrews, 87, and Earnest Parsons, 19, were slightly burned that night when a fire broke out around 9:!5 p.m. in the Old Mill attraction. The fire was believed to have been ignited from a discarded cigarette or incendiary. They were on the second floor of the building when they panicked and jumped, landing on the steps below, which were already burning. They were taken to the Protestant hospital. Andrews could walk home after treatment, but Parsons's injuries were worse. Although rumors were spread that several people were injured and died, manager Dusenbury and the fire department believed they were the only injuries, and no one died.[3] However, some other publications reported seven people were injured and at least 1,000 people fled in panic.[1]
It was possibly arson due to other fires around the park that night. A band member discovered one of the other fires in one of the theater boxes at 6:30 p.m. and extinguished it with a chemical. However, State Fire Marshal Zuber investigated the fire and didn't think it was arson due to there being a large crowd on a Sunday night.[4]
The destroyed buildings were frame structures, and most of them were lined with burlap. The firefighters arrived too late to save the five buildings but were able to save the Dancing Pavilion, which was only partially burned. Its survival is partially attributed to its steel frame. The water damaged the dance floor. Manager Dusenbury said the buildings were not insured. Events for the week were not canceled.[3]
The debris of the destroyed buildings was cleaned up by July 22.[5]
Buildings Destroyed
- Ye Olde Mill (First)
- The Destruction of Johnstown
- Dear Old Coney Island
- Temple of Mirth
- Penny Arcade (includes)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Fire Causes Panic." Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California), July 17, 1911. Page 5.
- ↑ Photographs, The Columbus Evening Dispatch, July 17, 1911. Page 1.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, July 17, 1911. Page 1.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park Fire Not Work of Arsonist." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, July 18, 1911. Page 3.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, July 22, 1911. Page 10.