Conflagration: A tale of two cities

GREEN BAY/MARSHFIELD – Conflagrations are often viewed as disasters of the past.

As communities further developed, building materials and techniques for urban sprawl have advanced to prevent fires from hopping from structure to structure in highly populated areas.

However, back in earlier times, fires wrought devastation among the early wooden structures in growing downtown areas.

The “Great Chicago Fire” and the “Peshtigo Fire” are two of the most well-known conflagrations — both occurring in 1871.

Two other conflagrations took place in the state of Wisconsin the following decade.

The fires would occur in very similar ways and would connect the two very different communities.

“The fall of 1880 had been generally dry,” wrote David Siegel in Forces of Change, which chronicles the history of the Green Bay Fire Department. “There had been no rain for a least a week prior to Sept. 20. On that fateful day, a steady wind blowing from the southwest was so strong that it was ‘difficult to walk against’ and was later estimated to be 25-30 miles her hour.

“The coal-powered propeller-driven ship Oconto was docked on the east bank of the Fox River at the foot of Pine Street. It pulled away from the dock en route to De Pere. However, heading into the strong wind made maneuvering into the channel difficult, and it was clear to witnesses on shore that the Oconto was struggling.

“The crew added more coal to the boiler firebox in an effort to provide sufficient power for the ship’s propeller. This resulted in a considerable amount of burning coal cinders to be expelled with the exhaust from the stack.”

Cinders landed on the shore of the river – most notably on a 110-foot pile of wood shavings starting a fire.

Firefighters responded to the fire but were hampered by a water supply issue and the strong winds fanning the flames.

The fire overtook the Astor Planing Mill and quickly crossed South Washington taking on businesses and homes, then crossed Adams Street, heading northeast.

The empty Jackson Square lot finally provided an opportunity for the firefighters to get ahead of the fire, but debris raining from the fire deposited in other areas of the city – some landing on the Charles Kitchen home and reigniting the fire on Cherry Street.

By the time the massive fire was under control that evening at 7:30 p.m., it had destroyed 100 structures, but no lives were lost.

As of the morning of June 27, 1887, Marshfield had not seen rain in three weeks.

The air was dry, and the wind was heavy as the Upham lumber yard bustled with the energy that a Monday morning during the height of mill season brings.

Wood and sawdust filled the yard as 17 million feet of lumber lay awaiting its destination.

When the 11:45 a.m. whistle blew to signal mid-day, hungry workers scattered to their homes and break areas for a rest.

As the workers enjoyed their temporary respite, a Wisconsin Central train entered the city, stopping on a spur near the mill to empty its firebox.

The wind and nearby sawdust provided all that was needed for a spark to trail from the firebox into the awaiting propellant.

Soon, there was a flame.

Marshfield business owners and residents helplessly watched as building after building disappeared while the city struggled to get the fire under control.

By 4:30 p.m. the flames were finally contained, and by 5 p.m. the fire had been extinguished.

Loss from the fire was estimated at $4 million — taking out much of the business district — but not a single life was taken by the disaster.

With the 1880 fire still fresh in their minds, the Green Bay community was called to action.

A June 29 Press Gazette called for action, “Immediate assistance is needed badly and Marshfield will not forget the friends who respond to the appeal which she sends forth in her extremity.”

Trainloads of aid rolled into Marshfield in the following weeks from Green Bay and other communities.

For more on the Green Bay fire and Green Bay Fire Department history, Forces of Change is available at the Neville Public Museum and Brown County Historical Society/Hazelwood House in Green Bay and Bosse’s News & Tobacco, De Pere.