Jul 28, 2020 a decade later, the 1881 thumb fire burned over 1 million acres, costing over 280 lives and destroying a major part of tuscola, huron, sanilac, and st. At least 1,200 people died possibly twice as many as a result of the fire. On october 8th, 1871 the city of port huron was burned down in the port huron fire of 1871. A reporter later admitted to fabricating the story, but it continues to endure in popular. On the night of october 8th, 1871, at 7 dekoven street on the citys southwest side in or near the barn of patrick and catherine oleary something ignited a small fire. The great michigan fire there were five major fires that burned in the midwest on october 8, 1871. Story of the great forest fire of 1881 chapman bros. Port huron is the only place in michigan where a lynching of an african american man took place. The most famous fire struck chicago, and claimed about 300 lives while destroying over three square miles of the city, including more than 17,000 buildings. The brick building erected in its place was used for county purposes until the removal of the county seat to port huron, in 1871, and the fail continued to be occupied for keeping prisoners until the completion of. This is the huron county news, published by the huron county news co.
True stories of shipwreck and disaster on the great lakes james l. Several persons have been burned to death while fleeing from the fire. On the night of october 8, 1871, between 1,700 and 2,500 lives were estimated to be lost as a result of the forest fires that took place in and around the peshtigo area, including regions of brown county, kewaunee county and door county. The fire that took williamsonville door county pulse. Author discusses michigans thumb in virtual presentation. The port huron fire of october 8, 1871 one of a series of fires known collectively as the great fire of 1871 or the great michigan fire burned a number of cities including white rock and port huron, and much of the countryside in the thumb region of the u.
In 1881 there was a terrible fire that swept throughout portions of the thumb in michigan. Great fire of october 8,1871 hankering for history. On sunday, october 8, 1871, fire leveled a broad swath of michigan and wisconsin, including the cities of peshtigo, holland, manistee, and port huron. The concurrent peshtigo fire in wisconsin also destroye. Jun 25, 1996 steaming through smoke and fire, 1871. Oct 30, 2019 it was the deadliest wildfire in american history, with estimated deaths of 1,500 to 2,500 people, though it is largely forgotten in our collective memory, unlike the great chicago fire of the same day. Poking into historical fires part 3 the years between. Sharing the history of port huron through photos,videos,dvds, and information. Seven sad moments in the history of port huron blue water.
The whole michigan thumb suffered two disastrous fires. A sky of flame, of smoke a heavenful, the earth a mass of burning coals, the mighty trees, all works of man between and living things trembling as a child before a demon in the gale, is how the michigan fire of 1871 was described in a history. White rock was the largest town in the territory in 1776 and was a busy port prior to the 1871 fire. The great midwest wildfires of 1871 national weather service. Jan 08, 2020 the port huron fire of 1871 took place on october 8th, 1871. The thumb fire of 1881 brought the american red cross to the first major disaster they brought relief to. The conflagration burned from sunday october 8th to tuesday october 10th and destroyed four square miles of chicago, driven by strong northwest winds. Casualties were not insignificant, but they were widespread and without a.
Other fires took place in manistee, michigan and holland, michigan. The port huron and northwestern narrow gauge was built in 1880 and reached minden in august. The fire, which burned over a million acres 4,000 km. Forest fires have posed a danger throughout michigan history, particularly in. Seven sad moments in the history of port huron blue. The most notable of these fires were the great chicago fire, the great michigan fire, the port huron fire of 1871 some include this as part of the great michigan fire, and the peshtigo fire.
The book suggested that bielas comet started the fires. Donahue gives readers a rare and exciting glimpse of life on the great lakes in the fateful year of 1871. While it is a matter of historical record that the first sparks. The peshtigo fire, which proved to be the deadliest fire in united states history, approaches its 145th anniversary this fall. They were possibly caused by the same winds that fanned the great chicago fire, the peshtigo fire and the port huron fire. Shortly after the great midwest fires of 1871, minnesota congressman, ignatius donnelly wrote a book called ragnarok, which is the old norse translation of fate of the gods.
The port huron fire occurred on october 8, 1871, and is one of a series of fires considered part of the great michigan fire. Poking into historical fires part 3 the years between 1851. They say there were fire tornadoes and some gusts of winds recorded at 4060 miles per hour. At white rock people plunged into the lake, but the lake was so rough that.
Legend says the familys cow knocked over a lighted lantern which set the city ablaze, but mrs. In a history of sanilac county, a civilian of michigan describes the fire as a sky of flame, of smoke of heavenful, the earth a mass of burning coals, the mighty trees, all works of man between and living things trembling as a child before a. Jan 27, 2019 on the night of october 8th, 1871, at 7 dekoven street on the citys southwest side in or near the barn of patrick and catherine oleary something ignited a small fire. This should be included in learning the history of wisconsin on the evening of october 8, 1871 the worst recorded forest fire in north american history raged through northeastern wisconsin and upper michigan, destroying millions of dollars worth of property and timberland, and taking between 1,200 and 2,400 lives. What people remembered most was the howling winds, thorp said. Ann arborflames are ravaging the forests and prairies of the west, but during the autumn of 1871, fire swept across part of eastern michigan laying claim to life, property and natural resources, primarily in sanilac, huron and tuscola counties. Its partial destruction was simultaneous with that of chicago. Note that port huron, michigan was devastated both in 1871 and. The 1871 great fire the burning great lakes thumbwind. The october 8, 1871 peshtigo fire in peshtigo, wisconsin, was a firestorm which caused the most deaths by fire in united states history, killing as many as 1,500. Mar 11, 20 however, that would not be the case with this article. Forest fires have posed a danger throughout michigan history, particularly i. On october 8, 1871, multiple fires brought havoc on cities in the united states. A great fire in 1871, for example, damaged the entire lake michigan shoreline, destroyed the cities of holland and manistee, and spread across to port huron.
The great michigan fire was a series of simultaneous forest fires in the state of michigan in the united states in 1871. Several cities, towns and villages, including alpena, holland, manistee, and port huron, suffered serious damage or were lost. In the year 1877, the volunteer company disbanded and the city installed a salaried part time fire department. Around midnight, on october 8, 1871 the primary fire started. It was established as a republican paper, but during the recent campaign it advocated the prohibition ticket. Noone is left to recall those that died in this fire or the intensity to which it burned everything in its path. Fire ravages michigan, not just chicago, in 1871 buy. The community was destroyed in the great fire of 1871, also known as the port huron fire of 1871, and which destroyed huge swaths in several portions of the lower peninsula of michigan, but was overshadowed by the great chicago fire and peshtigo fire in wisconsin which occurred on the same day. The towns of white rock and port huron, michigan were heavily damaged and it is estimated that 50 people died in this fire.
That same night, the great chicago fire erupted in nearby illinois. The fires of 1871 were huge, but they were spread through a dozen or so counties, from lake michigan to lake huron. The sixth ward hose company was duly organized october 20, 1875, under the name of deluge hose. The port huron fire department utilizes the current edition of the international fire code as adopted, referenced nfpa standards and the city of port huron code of ordinances for code enforcement. Wisconsin, and remains to this day as the deadliest fire in ame. Fires ravaged michigans thumb in 1871, 1881 university of. Congressman donnelly suggested that the fires were started by bielas comet that was first discovered in 1821 and made an appearance every six years and nine months until 1866. Great fire of 1871 historical marker in michigan on oct.
Approximately 800 fatalities occurred in peshtigo, wisconsin. Fires ravaged michigans thumb in 1871, 1881 university. Dec 3, 2015 focused on the effects in the thumb and sanilac county, but others will be included. From sunday, october 8 through tuesday, october 10, 1871 wildfires claimed. Michigan only to be stopped by lake hurons shores north of port huron at the lakes southern end. A sky of flame, of smoke a heavenful, the earth a mass of burning coals, the mighty. It burned a lot of cities including port huron, michigan and white rock, michigan. From sunday, october 8 through tuesday, october 10, 1871 wildfires claimed thousands of lives and destroyed millions of acres across the upper midwest. On october 8, 1871, the shores of lake michigan were the scene of 4 major fires, including the great chicago fire, perhaps the most famous fire in american history. Aug 24, 2015 port crescent at one time encompassed 17 blocks and had a population of more than 500 people, according to naldretts book. Occurring on the same day as the more infamous great chicago fire, the peshtigo fire is mostly forgotten. It burned the cities of white rock and port huron in michigan, killing at least 50 people.
White rock is a tiny unincorporated community of sherman township at the southeast corner of huron county in michigan. At least 50 people died as a result of the port huron fire, and at least 200 from all the fires in the state. The village of deckerville, on the port huron and northwestern railway, is totally consumed. In his forthcoming book about the history of holland, robert p. There were five major fires that burned in the midwest on october 8, 1871. An engraving of a boston fire is made out to be port huron. The port huron fire of 1871 took place on october 8th, 1871. The great michigan fire of 1871 was comprised of three separate fires. The poorhouses and poor farms of michigan michigan history.
Dick okeefe, became station master in the new depot. By 1900, the lands of the northern lower peninsula and the eastern upper peninsula were stripped of pine, and scores of lumber towns were dying. Michigans great thumb fires of 1871 and 1881 naldrett, alan on. Oct 08, 2015 four fires began 144 years ago on this day in 1871. There was no great loss of business in foresstville. Aug 09, 2015 port crescent at one time encompassed 17 blocks and had a population of more than 500 people, according to naldretts book. They were possibly caused or at least reinforced by the same winds that fanned the great chicago fire, the peshtigo fire and the port huron fire. The city is adjacent to port huron township but is administered separately. Aug 10, 2015 port crescent at one time encompassed 17 blocks and had a population of more than 500 people, according to naldretts book. This disaster earned a few names such as the great fire of 1871 and great michigan fire. Port huron, and manistee seeing the most significant damage and loss of life. Great peshtigo fire of 1871 wisconsin historical society. Port huron was created 1837 by the amalgamation of five villages. The thumb fire took place on september 5, 1881, in the thumb area of michigan in the united states.
Info on the peshtigo wi fire of 1871 also know as the forgotten fire. By 1871, the state supreme court had appointed port huron as the county seat. Later dispatches from east saginaw, port huron, flint, and other places in michigan continue to give alarming reports of the fires. Situated at the lower end of lake huron, it lies on the st. Port huron is on the opposite side of the state of michigan, near the canadian border along lake huron. Aug 20, 20 michigan forest fire of 1871 one of the most notable events of the period of which we write was the great destruction of life and property by the forest fires which swept across the state in the autumn of 1871. It was started in 1862, the first paper in the county. There is one last fire from 1871 that needs to be discussed. In huron county, families tried to outrace the fire. The brick building erected in its place was used for county purposes until the removal of the county seat to port huron, in 1871, and the fail continued to be occupied for keeping prisoners until the completion of the new jail, 1884.
In 1814 fort gratiot was built on the site of the earlier french fort st. In 1890 the worlds first international underwater railroad tunnel was built. This building was used until 1853, when it was destroyed by fire. It is unimaginable to picture whole cities burning, much less whole counties, but that was the case in 1871, and then remarkably, ten years later again in 1881. The great fire of 1871 history of manistee county, michigan with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its men and pioneers. Fire reached peshtigo during the evening of sunday, october 8, 1871. The port huron fire of october 8, 1871, ravaged most of the city and devastated other michigan cities including holland, manistee, grand rapids, south haven just to name a few. The summer leading up to the fires had been very dry. A year later he saved the depot during the 1881 fire. This light is not a replica of that original light, but is similar in design. The port huron fire department is said to be among the first in the state of michigan. Oct 08, 2020 108 1871 great chicago fire started, 17,000 buildings were destroyed and left 250 dead. Largest fire losses in the united states the 1871 chicago fire is listed as number 3. This fire destroyed most of the thumb area while on its destructive path.
551 772 566 1226 272 1336 431 343 645 294 51 1485 735 1462 1530 1342 1865 1934 1905 1583 1071