This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Grover, Carpenter, Furbush, Cantwell, Bowen, Heckel, Simons, Reeves, Grover, Brown, McCracken, McCloud, Lingenfelter, Swearengen Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1491 Message Board Post: THE SIDNEY UNION. January 7, 1876. "LAST NIGHT'S FIRE. Loss Over Six Thousand Dollars."--At about one o'clock this morning a fire broke out in the rear portion of the building occupied, by E.L. L. Grover as a confectionary store and restaurant. When the alarm was first given, the flames had got well under way and were spreading rapidly and were not controlled until it had burned all the buildings from Dr. Carpenter's drug store to Furbush & Cantwell's livery stable, both of which were burned. We are able to give the following estimate as to losses sustained, all of which are figured full low: Captain Bowen, groceries, loss by removal $250, fully insured. J.B. Furbush, building occupied by Bowen, $500. No insurance. George Heckel, boot and shoe, loss $200. No insurance. E.T. Simons, harness, $600; no insurance. Sam Reeves building, $1,000. B.L. Grover, restaurant $350. Henry Brown, building, $300 loss, no insurance. Dr. Carpenter, building, $300, loss in drugs $100. Dr. McCracken two frame buildings, $500, no insurance. McCracken & McCloud, milliners, $100. L. Lingenfelter law library and office furniture, $300, no insurance. As the estimates are low probably the real total loss, exclusive of insurance is not less than $6000. Quite a number of persons are thus subjected to severe losses and we are sure that those who are thus unfortunate have the sympathies of the community. Col. Swearengen's building was saved from the fact of ths being semi-fire proof, being covered with iron plating, a fact worth remembering by those intending to build again. We would suggest that our town council establish fire limits, so that hereafter none but substantial buildings of brick or iron, be allowed to be erected for business purpose in the established limits. This will materially add to the appearance and prosperity of the town, and will be a wise provision against the probability of like losses which our town has just sustained. Three such experiences as we have just sustained ought to teach our citizens the importance of taking such steps to provide against such occurances as much as possible.