Bicentennial Story #145-Belfield fire of 1922

Bicentennial Story #145-Belfield fire of 1922

Account of a fire in Belfield, ND on October 25, 1922.

11/19/1975

Muriel Hurt

This recording cannot be copied or reproduced without the written permission of the Dickinson Museum Center. This recording may be freely used for education uses, so long as it is not altered in any way. No commercial reproduction or distribution of this recording file is permitted without written permission of the Dickinson Museum Center.

mp3

audio reel, analog, 1/4 inch polyester tape

English

BS-145

Belfield, ND

Copyright Stark County Historical Society and Dickinson Museum Center

One of the greatest fears of every early town was FIRE. On the windy day of October 25, 1922 a fire started in one of the buildings of the West side of Main Street in Belfield. Before long the frame building blaze was out of control. Since most of these early buildings were of frame construction the fire soon spread to the adjoining building and from that point on, all the fire fighters could do was to pour water on the roofs of the more permanent brick buildings. Because of the severe wind from a westerly direction the fire soon crossed the street. When all was over, five buildings on the west side of the street and 3 buildings on the east side had gone down. This was a blow that would discourage even the strongest businessman and citizen. Some of those who had suffered losses quit business and left town, but some remained and built brick buildings.

This is Bicentennial Story No. 145, prepared by Muriel Hurt for the Stark County Historical Society.

Sound recordings

1:23

128kbps

1970 1979

Bicentennial tape #8, Bicentennial stories 130-151