FIRE AT ROCK ISLAND - Renfro 1854

RENFRO

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 7/20/2016 at 20:29:24

Dubuque Weekly Observer – July 15, 1854

FIRE AT ROCK ISLAND – Our neighbors of Rock Island closed their celebration of the 4th by a bonfire on a more liberal scale than had characterized their days proceedings, and to which, although our citizens had no invitation they repaired in crowds and the mercury at 90, worked like horses to keep to keep in subjection the devouring element.

At five o'clock a fire broke out in a two story, double brick on the landing, occupied by Mr. Renfro as a chair manufacture and as a dwelling house. The fire originated in the chair factory and from the want of fire apparatus, although it burnt very slowly, the entire building was destroyed. - Dav. Gazette