The Great Fire of Pomeroy

The great Pomeroy fire occurred on this date 110 years ago and as you know, here at America's Finest Blog great fires are enjoyed. Mostly because beyond Chicago and Rome, so few fires are truly great, in the larger scope of things. Really other than residents of Cle Elum how great was the Great Fire of 1918? The other thing about great fires is the point of origin, albeit a cow, a glue pot or fireworks on a windy day, they are usually amusing to us 21st century folk, as we can inevitably ask why you would do that in a wood building.

The Pomeroy fire started on the afternoon of July 18th, 1900, when the owner of Rice's Saloon, E.J. Rice, attempted to fill his gas light generator with gasoline. Apparently some gasoline spilled onto floor during the filling process. Rice and his associate Mr. Kirby, then having already forgotten the spill lit a match, which ignited the gas fumes and then the gasoline container. Even though the town fire department arrived quickly to the scene, the steady west wind and abundance of wooden building sealed the downtown's fate, half of it went up in flames. Like most western towns after a great fire, Pomeroy rebuilt in brick. One should note however this was the third great Pomeroy fire. Among the buildings lost in the 1900 fire was the courthouse, tonight's photo is of it's replacement.