Before the Fire

Columbia Av Business District 

Third St. business establishments

July 22,1914 Fire

Spokesman-Review July 23, 1914

NORTHPORT, Wash., July 22.--Fire, originating from an unknown cause in the unoccupied basement of the Fredrickson livery stable at 3:15 this afternoon, was not under control until an hour and a half later, by which time it had wiped out two-thirds of the business section, the loss being estimated at $100,000. No lives were lost.
At a late hour tonight the volunteer fire department was still fighting smoldering blazes, which it was feared might develop into dangerous volume at any time should a strong wind arise.

NORTHPORT, Wash, July 24.--After the fierce fire of Wednesday the main street of the town looks bare and forsaken--nothing standing of the former buildings except a part of the brick walls of the New Zealand block, the Savage store and the Log Cabin saloon. The whole town is worn out from the strenuous fight made in the face of the intense heat and fierce wind which raged all through the fire.  Shingles carried by the wind went as far as the Rowe ranch, three and a half miles up the river.  It was all the people could do with small garden hose to keep the fire from crossing Summit avenue.  The mill and blacksmith shop and the telephone poles were on fire many times.
     The fire started in a frame building next to the telephone office, where automobiles were being kept and much gasoline had been spilled around.  Shortly after the telephone office had been destroyed the lines were again in operation in a building across the street, placed there by some company linemen who were doing special work in the vicinity at the time.

Only a few buildings were ever rebuilt on this burned out block. 
L-R: The new railroad depot, the New Zealand Hotel, Northport State Bank and the new Post Office
about 1916

photos: Northport Pioneers