Wayne County Democrat, Business Abstracts 1874
Wayne County Democrat April 8, 1874
Uptown Telegraph Office is established by Western Union Telegraph Company for convenience of our businessmen and was opened last Saturday. It is located in Zimmerman exchange block, upstairs in rooms formerly occupied by CC Parsons Jr. as a law office next to the Democratic offices. Mr. EC Hard is operator and is a young man.
Boots and shoes at C Roth. My store on SW corner of the public square is two doors south of Quimby Bank
Wayne County Democrat Feb. 18, 1874
JP Power dry goods store burnt at a loss of 15000 in fire Wooster. The most disastrous fire in Wooster for many years, took place at noon, Sunday, burning out the dry goods store, second door of SE corner of public square. Several young men were standing in front of Donnelly Hardware Store across the street from Power’s and happened to observe smoke ensuing from the top of the second story window of the building which was supposed from the stove in the clerk’s bedroom, but soon came to alarm and smoke came out of crevices above and below.
Mr. Charles M Hesler, dentist, was the first to jump at the correct solution to the cause and gave alarm of fire. They ran across the street to the store, found the door locked and tried to kick it in but it withstood their efforts. Frank Johnson shoved John Yergin a barge through a large pain of glass and door and both entered the store through the opening they made. The room was billowing smoke. By this time, several more than a minute, the alarm had spread and citizens hurried to the spot, pushed open the door and commenced to take out the first goods within their reach as the rear of the store was all on fire and up through to the third story.
They continued this for a minute or two until the open door made such a draft that it was closed and the broken pain bounded up to keep out the air. In the meantime, the steamer had been brought to the reservoir on the square or 30 yards distance from the fire and shortly thereafter, the hand engine. Wooster #3 was on hand. The fire bells rang out and church services were interrupted in the middle of sermons. The congregations were dismissed without a doxology and men and women eager to be there, hurried along the streets of pavement and mud until half of the population had arrived at the scene.
At 8 minutes from the first one, Relief #4 was throwing first water on the fire. Deludge #1 arrived nearly the same time but fortunately just after commencing the work, it burst a flue and became unserchible. The Gallant Wooster #3 was not far behind and was quick on getting water on the fire. Good Entent #5 was brought by horses to the Babb Reservoir ready for duty but its services were not required. The members of the company aided the other firemen as well in their power. White Cloud Hook and Ladder Co. promptly placed their ladders at the windows of the second and third stories with which the firemen clamored with their hose and broke in the windows with axes and held their position in battling the fire with water. Although nearly suffocated by the black smoke that rolled against them, others with ladders mounted themselves with hose on the west side of block by going up over the front of Lewis Shibley jewelry store and thereby attacked the fire through the skylight. Thus the firemen were able to fight the flames above and below and relief stream on the roof.
When smoked learned, dozens of citizens rushed in and began removing the stock from the burning storeroom. In a short time, a great part of the goods were placed in safety on the pavement on the NE side of the square, some in much damaged condition from fire or water. Some stock was removed from upper stories by bringing it down ladders or throwing from windows.
It was feared that other buildings were also on fire. DQ Liggett dry goods store on the east and William A Donner variety store on the west were in danger. Water was thrown on Donner upper floor and some of the store goods removed. The newspapers in TY McCray law office over Donner Store, were taken out and preparations made for the general removal from the stores if it became necessary. Within one half hour under leadership of Theodore A DeYoung chief engineer of the fire department, the fire was under perfect control and within an hour, not a spark remained. Destruction was contained to Power’s store and that part of building in which it originated.
It was thought that the fire caught from the heating furnace which is located in the cellar of the back part of the store. The clerks every morning, build a fire there and at 11 o’clock, went to church not having observed any indications of fire. It commenced under the floor and made its way to the stairway, which acted as a chimney and went blazing up to the other stories.
Loss estimated at about 14000 of 4000 for building and 10000 on goods. 10500 insurance as follows: On building- Columbia Mutual Insurance- 2500; Knox Mutual- 2500; Stock Columbia Mutual-1500; Amazonia of Cincinnati- 2000; Gilard of Philidelphia-3000; Dycoming- 2000. Loss to YA Donner due to water was 1000 insured. Phenix of Hartsford damage to building 5000. In the evening, Mr. Power’s goods were stored in the courthouse where they yet remain.
Wayne County Democrat Feb. 25, 1874
James E Wescott, shop and farm wagons, work of all kind wanted. Shop on S Bever Street, adjoining John Knotz Wagon Shop, horseshoeing done. Bruce Taylor and JR Ogden, blacksmiths.
Miller and Slusser, grocery and bakers. We have bought out the entire grocery and bakery of M Keller at old stand of D Black, W Liberty Street.
Get all kinds of bristles and brushes at Brush Factory, SW corner of square, David Foss and Son.
Coal, Johnston and Co., new yard located on Hine lot opposite Washington House, Liberty Street.
Ramseyer Flour and Feed Store, has moved from opposite Zimmerman Drug Store to his warehouse up the alley in the rear of Frances Hall, W Liberty Street.
Wayne County Democrat July 22, 1874
IH Myers has moved his insurance offices to the room occupied by HJ Kauffman, over Johnson bank where he will be ready to do insurance of all kinds.
BF Purdy and Co., spring and summer goods, 1st door below WC National Bank.