Milton-Freewater Through The Years: July 1928 Fire Destroyed Business Section

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Article and Photos Courtesy of Marcia Akes

$220,000 blaze lays business section of North Milton in ruins Sunday:

One of the most disastrous fires in the history of the Twin Cities, totaling a loss of more than $210,000, completely destroyed two blocks of the business section of North Milton, adjoining Freewater, early Sunday morning and for a time threatened the entire business and residential section of Freewater.

The fire started about 3:20 A. M. in a shed used to store boxes between the Milton Fruit Growers warehouse and the Western Dehydrator, and was discovered by Orin J. Fox, an employee of the Milton Nursery Company, who was on his way to work.

Mr. Fox gave the alarm immediately, but before the fire department could reach the scene, the Union and Dehydrator were a mass of flames. The wind which had been blowing from a southeasterly direction, shifted to the south at this time and the flames from the dehydrator swept to the Tum-A-Lum Lumber Company, across the street, despite the frantic efforts of Freewater fire fighters. By this time the Milton department had arrived and it was thought the fire could be checked with lines laid to every available hydrant in both Milton and Freewater. It was discovered that more help was necessary and Mayor H. E. Murray, of Freewater, called Walla Walla for assistance.

Walla Walla responded almost instantly and made the run here in less than 15 minutes. However, the lumber yard and adjacent frame buildings on the east and west sides of Depot Street burned like tinder and when the Walla Walla department arrived, the Fruitland Grocery, on the corner of Depot and Main, was on fire.

Chief Casey of Walla Walla laid 1500 feet of hose to the Freewater natatorium and in a few moments after his arrival the big pumper was at work, throwing a stream of water of more than 1000 gallons a minute, which had its effect immediately and the fire was soon under control.

Shortly after the fire reached the Fruitland Grocery, the electric power was cut off and Freewater’s two pumps, furnishing pressure for the water system, were helpless to render any further assistance. The Milton supply, however, continued to function perfectly and streams of water were kept plying on the burning embers until all danger had been averted.

Hard work saved the Shields warehouse, the fire being stopped in the coal bunkers, within a few rods of the main warehouse. Two refrigerator cars on the siding on the side of the Milton ice plant were completely destroyed and another badly damaged, the ice plant being endangered by close proximity of the cars.

The O. W. R. & N. also lost one box car loaded with box shooks, and their water tank was badly damaged. The new depot escaped with blistered woodwork and broken windows. A flat car on the Walla Walla Valley railway spur was destroyed, and the Pacific Power & Light Company lost 1000 feet of trolley, seven poles and damage to both the O. W. and Walla Walla Valley tracks which were put out of commission.

Nothing was saved from the Milton Fruit Growers warehouse, the office records being completely destroyed, as were those of the Western Dehydrator. The Tum-A-Lum records were saved by Pat Mansfield, who carried the records to safety, which J. S. Crimins, in the brick block on the corner of Main and Depot Street, salvaged most of his barber equipment.

The entire stock of Lee’s Cigar store was completely destroyed, except a $1500 electric phonograph. The fixtures in this building were the finest in the city.

The Home Dairy saved the greater share of their equipment and $125 worth of ice cream in the building was found to be intact after the ruins could be examined.

B. C. Reynolds’ restaurant was a complete loss with no insurance, as was the Eastern Mercantile company grocery.

The origin of the fire will perhaps never be known definitely, however, it is thought it was caused by hobos between the Union and Dehydrator.

The news of the fire spread rapidly and in a short time the streets were crowded, all willing to assist in any way possible.

When the fire reached the Fruitland Grocery building, it was thought the Freewater business section was doomed and but for the timely arrival of the big pumper from Walla Walla, and the Milton water supply, it is altogether probable that this would have resulted.

Thirty-Seven business concerns were wiped out:

Milton Fruit Growers Co-operative Union; Steinhardt and Kelly-Monahan, Inc.; Tum-A-Lum Lumber company; Wester Dehydrator company; S. M. Simmons shoe shop; B. C. Reynolds’ restaurant; Shields Fruit company; Valley Fruit company; O. W. R. & N company box car, water tank and track, Walla Walla Valley railway poles and track; Mrs. Julius Guderian building, Eastern Mercantile company grocery; Toner & Sons meat market; Pearson & Hansell insurance, The Parrott merchandise; W. M. Wallace barber shop; Fruitland Grocery company; Charles Norman building; Cecil Propeck wallpaper; Lee’s Cigar store; D. T. Randall law library; Arthur Propeck building; Milton Box company; Earl Harden - two buildings occupied by Western Union Telegraph and Crimins barber shop; E. R. Harden Kandy Kitchen; Arthur Blackler ice machine; Joe Lawson building; Williams & Olinger building; Mutual Creamery company; Mrs. W. R. Bitney building; Mrs. A. W. Hill building; R. E. Gleason box material; Stanley Armstrong supplies and equipment; W. C. Hopson equipment; Peter Pan beauty parlor; W. A. Riethmiller; and VanSlyke Bros.

Many of the businesses had no insurance.

Flashes from the fire: Someone “saved” a pan of weenies from the Toner Meat market and then set them down on the street - several dogs spied them and enjoyed a party. Don T. Randall, attorney, moved his law books three times to safety. Roy Wann, proprietor of the Parrot, took out $2000 in General Insurance at 6 o’clock the night before the fire. Big John’s lavender pajamas created nearly as much excitement as the fire.

Panorama of the Milton fire 1928 - totally destroyed what is now the 400 block of North Main Street.

July 22, 1928 – 37 businesses in a 2 block area of North Milton burned. Buildings in background: On left is now Garrett Packing and Marv's Glass, on right is now Golden Village Restaurant (the top story of that building later burned and took it down to one story), also the house in the center is still standing.

We tend to refer to this area as Freewater, but it was actually Milton. The line between Milton and Freewater ran through the building that was Crimmins' Barber Shop (now the OSU Extension office on the corner of N. Main and N.E. 5th.) It was said that you could get a shave in Milton and a shoeshine in Freewater.  It became the famous "two-town" barber shop and was written about in "Ripley's Believe It Or Not!"

The fire started about 3:20 a.m. that Sunday morning, in a shed, and was thought to be caused by hobos. The total loss was estimated at more than $210,000. From the July 27, 1928 Freewater Times article: “ Big John's lavender pajamas created nearly as much excitement as the fire.

Photo in July 27, 1928 Freewater Times taken by - Hostettor, photographer. “Ruins in Twin Cities of Milton and Freewater Caused By Disastrous Sunday-Morning Fire.” (Some of the buildings in the background are still standing today.)

Originally posted by Milton-Freewater Chamber Downtown Alliance via Locable