Distributing Relief Supplies

A total of 4,615 people were affected by the fire, including 150 families who were completely burned out and another 80 partially burned out, while another 700 families experienced small losses. A massive relief effort provided survivors with necessities of life as railcars loaded with goods donated from urban areas throughout Michigan were delivered to Metz at no charge by the D&M Railway. Survivors lined up to receive relief supplies, and many appeared to be wearing clothes from an earlier distribution, including stylish dresses and hats donated by women in the Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe. The relief trains also brought farm equipment, lumber, furniture, hay and other livestock feed, seed for spring planting, medicines, bedding, carpets, and livestock. So much was sent to Metz that entire boxcar loads of goods were eventually diverted to other nearby communities that had also been burned over.

Michigan · United States