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HISTORY OF ALPENA COUNTY AFTER 1870 BY WILLIAM BOULTON IN 1876
About fifteen months before this event a fire occurred which destroyed the business portion of the Third ward, burning the Star hotel, Evergreen Hall, Bolton & McRae's store, Beebe's buildings, and Bogg's hotel. The loss amounted to many thousands of dollars. Bolton & McRae erected their present brick block on the site of the burned one; Gillett & Co. built a brick store on the site of the Star, and H. Beebe replaced his by a large wooden building which was burned down February 21. 1876.
The Alpena Weekly Argus of June 14, 1876, says:
"With what distinctiveness do many of our citizens remember the great fire in 1872, alluded to above, when nearly all of the business portion of Alpena south of the river was swallowed up by the fiery elements, and sixty-five buildings laid in ashes within three hours' time from the first outbreak of the raging flames. Even now it makes us shudder as those sad recollections are brought to our mind; to think of the loss of life, the destruction of property, the ruin of business, and men who were, ten minutes before the event, considered well to do and in prosperous circumstances rendered homeless and penniless by the great disaster. Yet the citizens of Alpena were always an energetic and thriving people, and not hesitating to mourn over the ruins of the property they had accumulated in the past, they began immediately making preparations for the construction of more substantial buildings for business purposes, and in a short time was seen the hurry and bustle of
mechanics as they labored faithfully on the brick and wood structures that now adorn the streets of our prosperous and thriving city.
Alpena Michigan
Page 9
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