Disaster Strikes the Tacoma Mill
A major industrial fire destroys the machine shop at the Tacoma mill, resulting in $26,000 in damages.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Saturday night about 10 o'clock the large three-story building used as a store-room, machine shop and pattern room, at the Tacoma mill, was discovered to be on fire, and despite the efforts of the mill hands and citizens, and the splendidly arranged system of water supply, the building was burned to the ground. This structure stood within 14 feet of the mill, which was saved from the flames. This machine shop was one of the best arranged and most complete on the Sound, and the loss will probably reach $26,000. The mill was not injured, as it was running last night when the steamer passed. The fire is supposed to have originated from a spark from the slab pile. The machine shop will be at once rebuilt.
“Despite the efforts of the mill hands and citizens, and the splendidly arranged system of water supply, the building was burned to the ground.”
Industrial fires were the defining existential threat to 19th-century Pacific Northwest mill towns, where the built environment was composed of volatile, combustible lumber. The quick resolution to rebuild shows the 'boom town' mentality where capital was quickly replaced despite significant losses.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.