Looking back at the Fire of 1900

On June 19, 1900, at 6:30 pm,  Hoffman’s grist mill on the south side of Elmwood Ave., went up in flames. The fire quickly spread and destroyed a large part of downtown Middleton on Hubbard Ave. and Parmenter St. and burned about 19 buildings and 12 barns/outbuildings.

The fire quickly spread to other buildings on Elmwood west to Parmenter, and on Parmenter’s east side north to University Ave.(including the Middleton Hotel.) It also turned south and burned everything along the east side of Parmenter to Hubbard Ave.

Residents immediately began a bucket brigade, working into the night.  At 8:30 pm they reached out to Madison  Fire Company who arrived on a special train with their steam fire engine and hose cart.  Unfortunately, the only source of water was too far to reach, and  the engine was not unloaded.

“The bucket brigade, some perched on the roofs and others passing up water on buckets attached by ropes, stayed at their heroic work and though the heat was so intense that it cracked the glass fronts of the buildings across the street from the Opera House, they saved the buildings from destruction.” – Wisconsin State Journal

The Wisconsin State Journal also reported of looting and unrest among residents.”There was almost a riot on the street about 11 pm when some foolish individual dropped  a remark that the fire might have been started by Wm Hoffman in whose mill it originated. No sooner was the remark made than a bystander hit the slanderer, and the crowd threatened to mob him, but wiser counsel prevailed and the offender was hustled home.”

The residents in the Village of Middleton were undeterred and immediately began rebuilding. A Wisconsin State Journal reporter visited Middleton at the end of October and noted “some are occupying new, better and more attractive than before the fire.  The new buildings of Henry Prien and Brumm and Brumm  come up to style to the average businesses in Madison.”

By December, the newspaper reported in December of 1900,  that “like the sphynx of old” Middleton had “risen from its ashes.”

In addition to several fire proof buildings, the Great Fire resulted in the formation of the Middleton Fire Company No. 1 on February 4, 1901.

Residents review the damage. Three buildings in the background still remain.

Remains after the fire took out half the businesses.

Wesenberg blacksmith shop near the new roller mill. Coolidge House in the background.

The Wolf family saved their home by dousing water on the carpet and covering the roof.

Construction began on the Goth building at 1920-1922 Parmenter.

Middleton House was a boarding house for RR workers in 1856 and perished in the fire.

George Schneider furniture store, 1919 Parmenter St was destroyed by the fire.

Opera House (or Elks Hotel), built in 1885 destroyed.

Opera House (or Elks Hotel) rebuilt in 1903

St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, shortly after the fire of 1900, as viewed from Parmenter Street.

Brumm & Brumm clothing store, 7454 Hubbard Avenue built in 1900. Photo shows awning