Fifteen Minutes and the Whole Town Core Was Gone
A flue fire in the Hotel Sedro kitchen took the Pioneer Block with it — the council chambers, the bank, the druggist and the newspaper, all in one afternoon.
SEDRO, April 26 — Special. The burning of the Hotel Sedro and the Pioneer block yesterday afternoon was a great loss to this town. The hotel was one of the finest north of [the sound]. It was built three years ago at a cost of $15,000 and furnished at a cost of $5,000 by the Sedro Land Company. The Pioneer block was built at the same time by the same company, at a cost of $7,000.
The fire originated in the kitchen by a flue, and was discovered soon after the fire started, but on account of the lack of hose, the water tank and the dry condition of the building, it was impossible to extinguish it. In less than fifteen minutes the entire building was a mass of flames. A small portion of the furniture was saved. Two months ago the hotel was leased by the House Brothers, of Arlington, who lost all their private furniture and their clothing, except what they were wearing. The land company has $6,000 insurance on the hotel and furniture. It is not likely that the land company will rebuild, as the hotel has been run at a loss to the owners for the last two years.
The Pioneer block, as stated in yesterday's dispatch, was occupied by the town council, Bingham & Holdbrook, bankers, A. F. Holland, druggist, the Sedro Times and the office of the land company. The large safe, containing the money and valuable books of Bingham & Holdbrook, was taken out of the building, but another safe, in which were deposited many papers and deeds, etc., belonging to private parties, went through the fire. All the contents are thought to be safe and in good condition, however.
Today being a legal holiday, Bingham & Holdbrook did not attempt to do any business, but are moving their safe to a room in the Washington block, where they will be open for business tomorrow morning. The firm's loss consists of the bank furniture, which is nearly covered by insurance in the Hartford Company.
A. F. Holland lost $1,991 in drugs, cigars, furniture and clothing, upon which there is an insurance of $850 in the Prussian and $500 in the Hartford companies. The large press in the Sedro Times office, owned by J. N. Alexander, was destroyed. The loss is partially covered by insurance in the Northern and in a Seattle company. All the furniture was removed from the land office. The council room furniture was insured for $350, which will cover the loss unless the safe is found to be unfit for future use.
The House brothers have opened their bar in a room in the Washington block, but they will go out of the business unless the hotel is rebuilt. A. F. Holland has resumed business in the Washington block. The Sedro Times will probably be discontinued.
The Methodist-Episcopal and Presbyterian churches and some residences were in some danger from flying embers. All the buildings were carefully guarded.
It is rumored that Bingham & Holdbrook and A. F. Holland will erect a building near the old site of the burned hotel.
“In less than fifteen minutes the entire building was a mass of flames.”
Sedro-Woolley's wooden business core could vanish in a quarter of an hour, and the town's bank, council, druggist and newspaper all lived in the same combustible block. The instinct that followed — rebuild immediately, ideally in brick, next door to the ashes — is the same one that shaped every main street in the Puget Sound country. What is left of that afternoon today is a highway corridor and a town that quietly absorbed its losses.
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