Photo of the Month

November, 2002

GREAT CENTRALIA FIRE OF 1908

One of the biggest fires in Columbia County history occurred in Centralia on December 4, 1908, when flames swept a large portion of the community. The fire started at 2:00 a.m, in the Palace Theatre at 519 Locust Avenue. There had been a water famine in the area, and the town was in the habit of turning off the water supply overnight as a conservation measure. Before the water could be turned back on, the fire was well out of control, and firemen could barely project a ten foot stream with their hoses.

The fire spread both north and south from the theatre on Locust Avenue and rounded the corner onto East Center Street on the south and East Railroad Street on the north. The saloon and residence of Freeman Yeager was dynamited in order to create a fire-break, but this proved unsuccessful.

Firemen from the Centralia Fire Company, Washington Hook & Ladder Company, Ashland, American Hose Company also of Ashland responded with manpower and equipment. Fire companies in Mount Carmel and Shenandoah also sent man power to the scene, but found it useless to send equipment due to the water drought.

The fire burned itself out on East Railroad Street, and its progress was halted on East Center Street by members of the Washington Hook and Ladder Company who tore down the residence of Mrs. Purcell while it burned. The next day almost an entire square block, except for two heavily damaged houses, was completely leveled. A total of thirty-four houses, eight stores, five saloons, a law office, the Palace Theatre, Odd Fellows Hall along with all of the stables and other buildings in Apple Alley were destroyed, and over 150 people became homeless. The fire was allegedly set by an arsonist although no one was ever brought to justice.