Fire of 1901

On November 15, 1901, the entire east side of the 100 block of North Main burned to the ground. The block consisted of frame buildings in poor condition, and some citizens whose businesses were not destroyed regarded the disaster as a blessing in disguise. The fire began at 4:00 p.m. on the second floor of Ward Brothers Restaurant, three doors from the south end of the block, when Frank Jennison was filling a lamp in the Ward building and his helper lit a match near a gasoline container, causing an explosion. Most of the businesses were lighted by gasoline lamps, which Jennison cleaned each day and lit in the evening. Within minutes the entire second floor was in flames. A lamp was thrown out of a window, and Carl Matthews tried to secure the container, but he was overcome by smoke, fell into the burning oil, and was badly burned before City Marshal Clyde Wooden rescued him. Jennison and his helper were also burned. The fire moved north, destroying everything in its path, while townspeople covered nearby building fronts with blankets drenched in salt water and farmers loaned teams and wagons to help remove goods. In all, twenty-four businesses were destroyed.

Newkirk, Oklahoma · United States