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DISASTROUS FIRES

Transcribed from the August 13, 1964 Issue of the Waterloo Courier:

The Drew Elevated Carrier Factory burned to the ground on Friday, November 19, 1909. Fire started in the paint and oil room on 3^rd floor. Insurance $15,000.

A fire which originated in a store room over the kitchen destroyed the Commercial House, the sample room north of it, Glen Cone's Barber Shop and Matt Voelkers Commission store September 5, 1907.

The Malt House, pride of Waterloo's Industries was demolished in an early morning fire on October 2, 1906. It started on the 3^rd floor in the dry kiln. Estimated loss $50,000 covered by $37,000 insurance. Employed a force of 16 men and had been turning out about 1500 bushels of malt daily.

The brick and frame elevator of the Waterloo Malting Company was destroyed by fire in April 1916, for the second time. The loss was figured at $20,000.

The Brandner Block on the corner of Madison and Monroe Streets was almost completely destroyed by fire in December 1912. It started on the second floor, burned through the floor and fell to the first floor and then burned through the floor to the bowling alley in the basement. A.E. Heidemann's Saloon was located on the first floor. The building was owned by Frank Bibow of Columbus and an estimate of the loss was between $2,000 and $3,000.

Fire was discovered in the Malt House by John Albrecht, one of the night workers, about 2:30 a.m., on March 2, 1914. In less than two hours the plan was destroyed with the exception of the engine room, the elevator and storage tanks. D.V. Hales was in charge of operations and the loss was said to be about $50,000.

The interior of Bowden's Tavern was gutted by flames in December, 1933. In spite of –20 degree weather, the firemen saved the exterior. The building was owned by Mrs. Bertha Henke as a hotel until the previous summer when Chester Bowden established a saloon there.