York County PA News
Disasters-Fire
Transcribed by Nancy Piper Unless Otherwise Noted
The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA
August 28 1805
York, August 22
FIRE!
On the night of Saturday last, about 1 o'clock, the inhabitants of this town, were by a cry of fire called to a scene of devistation, which proved to be in the barn of John Hay, Esq. This together with several of the adjoining buildings were so instantantenously inveloped in flames, that every exertion on the part of the inhabitants to preserve them, proved ineffectual. By this dreadful calamity, the barn of John Hay, Esq., in which the fire originated, together with its valuable contents, consisting of between 6 or 800 bushels of grain, a house the property of Dr. John Rouse, occupied by John Glessner as a tavern, a brick building belonging to James Smythe, Esq., and another dwelling house the property of Mr. Shmuck with several other buildings - fell a prey to the devouring element. The distresses of this night deprived two families of their residence, together with a considerable part of their property.
The spirited exertion of the citizens and a calm atmosphere, prevented the conflagration from being much greater, as the buildings were compactly situated.
This repeated instance in this borough of fire originating in a barn, has excited suspicion, that there are again evil minded persons among us, and in consequence the Burgesses have offered one hundred dollars reward for detecting the incendiary.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
February 5 1823 Page 3
York Pa, Jan 21
Fire - On Sunday the 26th ult, the mill with between 5 and 600 bushels of grain, belonging to Benedict meads, of Hopewell township, York county, was consumed by fire. - Gazette.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
May 5 1824
York, Pa., April 27
Fire
On Monday night, of last week, the Grist Mill of Mr. Frederick Gram, of Fairview
township, in this county, was destroyed by fire. The flames, bursting out
about midnight, gave the first alarm, but it was then too late to do anything
with effect, and the building, with all its contents, consisting of more
than three thousand bushels of grain, fell a prey to the destroying element.
It is not known in what manner the fire originated. - Recorder.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
June 23 1824
On Saturday evening last, the large and valuable barn of John Herr, in Hellam township, on the road from York to Wrightsville, about one mile from the latter place, was destroyed by fire. It is said to have been the work of an incendiary.
William Nes's House Damaged by Fire
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) October 20 1824
York, Pa., Oct. 12
Fire
Yesterday about 1 o'clock P.M. a fire was discovered in the house of William Nes, Esq., at the S.W. corner of Main and Water Streets. The house, kitchen and stabling were materially injured. It is not known how it originated. - Recorder
Samuel Hoke's tavern destroyed by Fire
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) January 5 1825
Fire
On Tuesday morning, the 28th ult., the tavern of Mr. Samuel Hoke, about 8 miles from Hanover, on the York road, was totally destroyed by fire.
Dwelling House of Mrs. Koontz Damaged by Fire
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) January 19 1825
York, Pa., Jan 11
FIRE - A building in the rear of the dwelling house of Mrs. Koontz, occupied as a cabinet maker's shop by Samuel Sanderson, was on Friday morning last discovered to be in flames. The roof and upper story, together with a quantity of lumber, some unfinished war and the whole of Mr. Sanderson's tools were burnt. The adjoining buildings were fortunately covered with snow and the air was perfectly calm. Under different circumstances a very destructive conflagration might have ensued, as the shop is in a very confined situation, and the extensive and valuable building circumjacent, are so closely connected with each other as to form almost one entire pile. - Recorder.
Barn of Mrs. Eyster Destroyed by Fire
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) January 11, 1826
Hanover, Jan. 3.
Fire - Yesterday morning between 3 and 4 o'clock, the barn of Mrs. Eyster, about two miles from this borough, together with one or two horses, several head of horned cattle, 12 or 15 sheep, a large quantity of grain, hay, &c. was consumed by fire. We are informed that the fire originated in consequence of some hot ashes having been placed in a small building a few rods from the barn, the day previous. A corn crib, adjoining this building, together with about 200 bushels of corn, was also consumed. - Guardian.
Mr. Tyson's Mill Destroyed by Fire
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania August 30, 1826
Fire
On Wednesday evening last about 9 o'clock, the mill at York Haven, owned by Mr. Tyson was discovered to be on fire and was entirely consumed with its contents among which were 12,000 bushels of wheat. The mill was perhaps the largest and most complete in its machinery of any in Pennsylvania, upward of 50,000 dollars were expended in erecting it, consequently the loss cannot be less. Mr. Tyson who lives in Baltimore had the mill and its contents insured at $50,000. York Haven, where the mill was located is a small town ten miles north from the borough of York, in Newbury township, York county. The mill was turned by the waters of the Susquehanna, taken out of the canal made round the Conowago Falls, which made its water powers so great that from 150 to 200 barrels of flour could be made daily. It was at first supposed that the fire originated through design. But this seems not to be the case as it is said the miller had that day been cleaning wheat and that the elevators were run so fast that the friction caused the leather to be burnt, from which the fire must have communicated to the building. - Ib.
Thomas Eichelberger's Tavern House and Stable Destroyed by Fire
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania November 22, 1826
The tavern house and stable, occupied by Mr. George Wise, on the Vineyard farm of Mr. Thomas Eichelberger, about one mile from York, were destroyed by fire on the afternoon of the 7th instant. Loss estimated at 400 or 500 dollars.