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
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