Fire in Chautauqua
On Thursday night last, about 2 o'clock the barn of Mr. Rodman Wilcox, of this town, was discovered to be on fire, and before assistance arrived the flames had gained such headway that it was found impossible to extinguish them. The barn contained a horse belonging to a son of Mr. W., some 10 to 12 tons of hay, a buggy, harness, bob-sleighs and farming utensils, all of which were burned. We have not learned the loss, but Mr. W. held an insurance policy for $800. The origin of the fire is unknown. [Sentinel from "Jamestown Journal", November 17, 1876 Submitted by a Friend of Free Genealogy]]

---

Great Fire in Fredonia - A Block Burned
A fire broke out in Fredonia on Tuesday morning last about 3 o'clock in an unoccupied store on the corner of Main and Water streets. We condense an account from the last Censor. The flames were first discovered bursting from the room up-stairs over the alley on Water street, and the adjacent buildings on both Main and Water streets being all of wood, were of course doomed to certain destruction. Asa Brainard's grocery, Barmore Brothers furniture ware-house, Roberts & Allen's grocery, James H. Lake's harness shop and house and a house belonging to L. B. Green, all these on Main street, were consumed in rapid succession, while Ellis & Beebe's meat market, Alonzo Andrews' harness shop, J. F. Brown's grocery and dwelling and D. Beebee's saloon and dwelling, on Water street, shared the same fate. At half past six o'clock, within two hours of the time that the alarm was sounded, the whole territory covered by the buildings above enumerated, was an expanse of smoking ruins.
The Censor further states that water was plenty and close by, but when their single old engine was brought out it would not work. It had just been repaired up by the Trustees, in lieu of buying a new one. This proved expensive econonmy, for the Censor says if it had worked for only a few minutes at the right time two of the houses would have been saved; the loss on these was $3,400, which is chargeable to false economy. Lesson for our folks.
The crown very naturally became rampant at the sight of the useless old engine standing there over a reservoir of water standing near enought to be warmed by the fire, and "went for" it with the intention of running into the fire. Just as it was about to be shoved in the village President and Constable interfered and by persuasion, promises and threats to immolate themselves with it, they stopped the riot.
The fire department of Dunkirk was telegraphed for help and two engines came up in 40 minutes from notice, but the fire had then spent its fury.
The losses amount to about $30,000; insurance to $7,300. The buildings were all of wood and the burnt territory will in time probably be covered with brick, thus converting loss into gain for our beautiful sister village.
[Source: "Jamestown Journal", May 1, 1868 - Submitted by a Friend of Free Genealogy]