Springdale Burned. The Reformer Didn’t Miss an Issue.
A fire swept away Springdale’s entire business district and wiped out its newspaper office. Editor Burrows still published an account of the blaze and promised a new press.
The fire at Springdale should be a warning to all towns of this section to look carefully after their interests, and do away with the many fire traps that will accumulate throughout a business district. This would be a good time for the fire wardens appointed last fall to make a thorough survey of the ground, and order the removal of the rubbish that might catch and communicate fire. A little caution at this time might be the means of preventing a disastrous fire.
Notwithstanding the severe fire that swept away the entire business portion of the town of Springdale, and the fact that the Reformer suffered a complete wipe-out, Editor Burrows pluckily appears with a paper descriptive of the fire. Editorially the Reformer promises the installment at once of a complete new outfit, including a cylinder press, and its example in so promptly taking up the work of rebuilding cannot fail to be helpful and inspiring to the town. It is the history of most towns that they rise from the ashes of such conflagrations better and more modern towns, and we hope this will prove true of our Stevens County town.
“It is the history of most towns that they rise from the ashes of such conflagrations better and more modern towns...”
Small-town business districts still burn, and local newspapers still scramble to cover the news that threatens their own presses. Springdale’s 1908 fire is a reminder that disaster coverage is often produced by the people living through it—and that fire risk and local news deserts are both familiar today.
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