Conroe Fire of 1911

On February 21, 1911, around 1:30 in the morning, a fire broke out in the Capitol Drug Store on Chambers (today North Main) Street in downtown Conroe. The blaze was well underway before it was discovered, and northerly winds swept the flames southeastward toward the railroad tracks. The volunteer fire department had only one hose cart, which was pulled by hand to fight the inferno, and a lack of water pressure led to the effort being called off. The post office, meat market, saloon, grocery store, and Masonic lodge were among the businesses caught in the path of the fire, along with the homes of owners who lived above their stores. Sixty-five buildings, store inventories, and personal belongings were lost that early February morning, at an estimated total cost of $150,000, over 3.5 million dollars in today's money. The following business day, the city council created an ordinance requiring buildings to have "fire proof" materials protecting the wooden structures. A year later, the city council amended the ordinance to require buildings to be constructed of brick and stone. The 1911 fire in downtown Conroe and the prompt response to its destruction by Conroe residents reflected the resilience of Texans as they settled, struggled, and prospered in southeast Texas. Despite the tragedy, the rise of stately brick business buildings left current visitors a picture of a bygone era in structures now more than a century old and echoed the town's nickname, "The town that faith built!"

Conroe, Texas · United States