Dakota Datebook: Fargo's 1893 Fire

June 7, 2018 — On this day in 1893, a huge portion of Fargo burned to the ground. At 2:15 p.m., something took place behind Herzman’s Dry Goods Store at 512 Front Street – or current-day Main Avenue.

According to a Fargo Forum special edition, the fire began when someone from the Little Gem Restaurant threw ashes out the back door, inadvertently catching the dry goods store on fire. Another version of the story states Lily Herzman was burning cardboard packing cartons behind the store and the flames spread to the building. At that time, almost every building in Fargo was made of wood, as were the sidewalks.

We do know a 30-mile an hour wind whipped the fire quickly northward, causing it to take everything in its path.

Almost all of the town’s 6000 residents lost their homes, and the downtown businesses were wiped out, including City Hall and most of its records.

There were a number of factors that contributed to the catastrophe. The closest fire alarm box was several blocks away, and it required a key that, unfortunately, nobody could find. The fire station was located right across the street from where the blaze began, but the men and trucks were out sprinkling streets to keep the dust down. By the time Fargo’s three fire companies arrived, the fire was out of control. It was a further irony that one of those companies – the Yerxa Hose Company – once held the world’s record in the fire-hose race. Firefighters rushed from Moorhead, Casselton, Grand Forks and Wahpeton to help, but were too late to stop the fire. Almost all of Fargo’s 6, 000 residents lost their homes. Downtown businesses were wiped out and City Hall lost most of its records. More than 160 acres were destroyed, including 31 city blocks from the NP railway line to 5th Avenue north – and either side of Broadway from the Red River west to the open prairie. It was reported that 219 businesses, 140 homes and 6 miles of boardwalks were destroyed.

Concerns over fire issues had been voiced in the years leading up to the loss, and steps had been taken to limit the number of wooden buildings being erected. There’s also evidence that there had been controversy in the fire department, and that city officials had identified fire hazards and had tried various methods of correcting them prior to the fire.

After the catastrophe, Fargo immediately began to rebuild, and within a year, 246 new buildings were erected. City leaders adopted stricter building codes, and rebuilt with brick. The city council also appointed a city fire inspector, required stone or concrete sidewalks, and it was no longer the fire department’s job to sprinkle streets. The water system was improved and one central fire station was built and outfitted with new fire fighting equipment.

Minutes from subsequent council meetings show that the city safe was still intact, and that on August 7, S. S. Graham was paid $12 to force it open. The records and council minutes inside were charred and damaged. Someone was hired to transcribe them.

Four and a half months after the fire, John Mosher filed a claim with the city for $280 for fire-wagon horses that were destroyed, and on December 4, 1893, the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company also submitted a bill for funeral expenses for fireman W. H. Johnson, who died of injuries. He was reportedly the only fatality of the fire.

“Dakota Datebook” is a radio series from Prairie Public in partnership with the State Historical Society of North Dakota and with funding from the North Dakota Humanities Council. See all the Dakota Datebooks at prairiepublic.org.