Franklin County PA News - Disasters
Colored Family Consumed by Fire (1809)
The Centinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), March 15, 1809
Chambersburg, March 7
Fire
On Tuesday last, between 11 and 12 o'clock in the afternoon, a small house situated near to Mr. Hughes's Iron works, in this county, occupied by a family of free people of color, was consumed by fire, together with three small children, the oldest aged three years. The mother of the unfortunate children went to a neighbor's house that morning and fastened the door of her cabin on the outside. It is supposed, the children in their play, sat fire to some tov which lay in the corner of the room, and thus, like the unconscious insect courted the flame by which they died.
Flood Damages Property on West Conoccheague
The Centinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), November 21 1810
Chambersburg, Nov. 13
A Flood
The rain which fell on Friday and Saturday last, raised the creeks in this county as high as the oldest inhabitants recollect to have ever seen them. We are informed that the bridges of West Conococheague, at Buckwalter's mill, at Beam's mill and at Loudon Town, are all swept off, and a great deal of damage done to private property situate on that water. We also learn that the bridge on East Conococheague, near Green Castle, has been carried away. It is to be feared, that near the mouths of E. and W. Conococheague the damage has been very extensive.
We are sorry to state, that since the above was put in type, we have learnt, that the damage done private property on West Conococheague, by the late flood, has even exceeded our fears. Scarce a mill or improvement of any kind on the whole extent of that stream has escaped damage. We have only room to state, that Mr. Archibald Irwin, at Irwin Town Mills, and Wm. M. Brown, Esq. of this place, are said to be the greatest losers; the latter of whom has had a new Slitting Mill, just finished and ready to be put into operation, and a Saw Mill, wholly carried off! The valuable improvements of Mr. Irwin, has been damaged probably to the amount of a thousand or fifteen hundred dollars.
Mount Pleasant, Roxbury and Major Spear's iron-works, have all been considerably damaged.
The Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA
September 15, 1819
Lewistown, PA
Fire - On Saturday night last, the fine new Grist Mill, Saw Mill, Carding Machine, and Still-house (in the mill), the property of Mr. John Mevey, of Waynesburo, in this county were entirely consumed by fire. The loss to Mr. M. is computed at from 5 to 7 thousand dollars. Other individuals have sustained considerable losses. A gentleman going westward with his family and who had trashed out his crop and deposited it in the mill has lost it entirely. Mr. Robb, the miller, an industrious man who lived at the mill, made a narrow escape from the flames with his family. His loss is severe. It is unknown how the fire originated. - Gaz.
Republican Compiler, (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
Wednesday, January 9, 1823 Page 3
Chambersburg, Dec. 31
Fire - On Saturday morning last, the Grist Mill and Fulling Mill of Mr. Christian Hoover in Peters Township, were totally consumed by fire. The fire was discovered in the lower part of the grist mill about three o'clock, when it had acquired such a head that nothing could be removed from it, and very little from the fulling mill which adjoined it. The loss to Mr. Hoover is estimated at between 6 and 7,000 dollars - that to his customers, in grain and cloth, is also considerable, besides the destruction of these mills will be a serious inconvenience to the neighborhood. It is not know how the fire originated, but it is supposed by the friction of the gadgeons. - Repos.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
January 29 1823 Page 3
Chambersburg, Jan. 21
Fire!! - On Monday evening the 15th inst the Barn of Mr. Clapsaddle, residing at the junction of East Conococheague and Back creeks, about 9 miles from this place, was consumed by fire, and seven head of horses and three head of horned cattle perished in the flames! The fire is supposed to have originated from a pipe, that some of the family had been imprudently smoking about the barn. -- Repository
1825 Destructive Hail Storm
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) June 1, 1825
Chambersburg, May 24.
On Wednesday evening last, we were visited by a hail storm as violent and destructive as perhaps any within the recollection of our oldest inhabitants. It came from the West and as far as we have been able to learn was about two miles wide and passed over a distance of 10 or 12 miles before it exhausted its fury. The hail here, were from the size of a musket ball to that of a hulled walnut and fell in sufficient quantity to cover the ground. In the whole course of this storm, it is said, the rising crops of grain have been generally injured and on some farms entire fields totally destroyed. Thus in a few minutes have been blasted the hopes of many farmers, who never perhaps had fuller prospects of reaping a plentiful reward for their labor. In this borough considerable loss has been sustained by the destruction of window glass and garden vegetables - the number of panes of glass broken its variously estimated at from 12 to 20,000 - in the county Poor-house, upwards of 500 panes were broken. On Friday morning last, some of the hail which had been swept into heaps were still to be seen. - Repository.
Isaac Wallace's barn destroyed by fire
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania September 6, 1826
Chambersburg, Aug. 29.
More loss by Lightning!
On Friday afternoon last, a large barn, the property of Mr. Isaac Wallace, of Guilford township, filled with grain and hay was struck by lightning and burnt down. - Repository
Flooding Destroys Property
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania September 20, 1826
Freshets - There was a destructive freshet in the Connecticut river on the 30th ultimo. The rise was sudden and unparalleled. Mills, bridges, factories and crops were swept away on Westfield river and much damage has been done to the Farmington canals. The great culvert at Granby, which was constructed at enormous expense and which has just been completed to the acceptance of the commissioners is entirely carried away. Other sections of the canal are said to be greatly injured. The damage must be immense and is variously estimated at from 30 to 38,000 dollars. Great damage has also been sustained by the rise in the waters of the Merimack, the Contoccook, Warner and Blackwater rivers. Roads are rendered impassable and many bridges have been carried off. - Frank Gaz.
Abraham Keefer's Blacksmith Shop Destroyed by Fire
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania December 7, 1826
Fire - On Thursday night the 23d ult., a Blacksmith shop, the property of Mr. Abraham Keefer, situate on his farm in Letterkenny township, was totally consumed by fire. In addition to the building, Mr. Keeffer lost a new Wagon which he had left at the shop to be ironed; and the Smith lost or had greatly injured, most of his tools. The fire was supposed to be accidental.
Franklin Repository.
Mr. Crawford and Joseph Davidson House Destroyed, Simon Wilson House Damaged by Fire
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania January 17, 1827
Fires
On Thursday night last, the dwelling house of the Rev. Mr. Crawford, situate about four miles from this borough, in Green township was totally consumed by fire. The fire originated in the kitchen; ashes had been deposited in the fireplace, which was closed (the cooking-stove being used.) and it is supposed that the chimney-board must have thus caught. The family were not apprised of the fire until some of the chambers were filled with smoke, when they barely had time to save themselves. Mr. C's loss, in addition to the house, is very considerable, in furniture , clothing &c.
We also learn that the house of the farm of Mr. Joseph Davidson, in Guilford township, occupied by a Mr. Miller, was burnt down on Wednesday last, and that a few evenings before, a house in St. Thomas owned by Mr. Simon Wilson, was in part burnt. - Ib.
George Duffield Barn Destroyed by Fire
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania March 28, 1827
Chambersburg, March 20
Fire
We regret to state, that on the afternoon of the 8th inst., the Barn on the farm occupied by Mr. George Duffield, about 5 miles from Mercersburg, was burned down, by which calamity Mr. D. also lost 5 valuable horses, about 600 bushels of grain - a quantity of hay and all his farming utensils. Loss estimated to be near $2000. The fire is supposed to have been communicated by the hand of some abandoned incendiary. - Republican.
Samuel Dillo Killed by Falling Tree
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania May 9, 1827
Fatal Accident
On the 25th ult., Mr. Samuel Dillo, of Green township, was engaged in felling a tree, and having it partly cut through stepped a few yards off, when a blast of wind blew it down and before he was aware of the danger of his situation, was struck by the falling tree and crushed to death.
Chambersburg Republican.
Henry Pfoutz Killed by Fall
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), July11, 1827
Chambersburg, July 3
Melancholy Accident
Mr. Henry Pfoutz, of Washington township, as thrown from his horse on Tuesday last and killed. He had rode to a neighbor's and was found dead in the road, within about a mile of his own house. His horse, it si supposed, had scared and one of his feet for some time stuck in the stirrup. The deceased was between 50 and 60 years of age - a steady, respectable citizen. - Repository
Capt. William M'Dowell's Barn and Tavern of John Rotz Destroyed by Fire
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), October 3, 1827
Fires
We regret to learn, that Capt. William M'Dowell of Peters township, had his valuable stone barn and its contents of grain and hay, consumed by fire on Monday night the 17th ult. The fire originated in an old blacksmith shop and from thence was blown to the barn and the whole were in flames before the family had warning.
Also in the afternoon of Monday the 17th September, the tavern house of John Rotz, deceased, situated near Shippensburg, on the road leading from that place to Strasburg, was burnt down. The roof caught from the chimney and was completely in a flame before it was discovered by the family. - Franklin Repository.
Dr. Heatherinton's Barn Consumed by Fire
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), October 31, 1827
On Thursday evening the 18th instant, Dr. Heatherington of Green Castle, had a barn and its contents situated about three miles from that place, totally consumed by fire. We have not learned how the accident occurred. - Franklin Repository.
Back to Pennsylvania Trails History and Genealogy