Bad Fire Hits Reardan

One of the worst fires in the history of Reardan occurred Tuesday of this week when some $60,000 worth of property was destroyed. The fire started in the old Bowie block and spread to several other buildings. Just twelve days previous a similar fire started in the same building but was extinguished without great damage. It is said that the fire is thought to have been of incendiary origin. The Pioneer Drug Store, owned by A. B. Hanel and the Masonic and Eastern Star paraphernalia were in the Bowie building and were burned. The Finrow general store, the Inland Hotel and the Reardan Gazette were also burned. Among the losses were: Bowie block, George Snyder, owner, $15,000, insured; Finrow company store, owned by the Farmers’ State Bank, $2,500, insured for $1,500; Finrow company stock, $18,000, insurance $13,000; Pioneer Drug, loss $7,000, insurance $6,000; Inland Hotel, $2,500, insurance $1,000; Reardan Gazette, building and damage to plant, $1,500, covered by insurance. Loss to the Masons and Eastern Stars was probably $1,500, with virtually no insurance. Plate glass fronts on the opposite side of the street were cracked and the loss is estimated to be several thousand dollars. The Farmers’ State Bank building was damaged to the extent of $500. The Davenport fire company came to Reardan to assist in staying the fire.” (Harrington Citizen: 8-06-1926)

=====================================================

Reardan Fire of Reardan, Washington, submitted January 17, 2006

to the WAGenWeb by Marge Womach

=====================================================
      USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
          free information on the Internet, data may be used by
          non-commercial entities, as long as this message
          remains on all copied material. These electronic
          pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit
          or for presentation by other persons or organizations.
           Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
          for purposes other than stated above must obtain the
          written consent of the file contributor.
          This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb.
=====================================================