Kentuckiana Genealogy: Interesting Stories: 1840 Great Fire

By Carol Haywood (208.201.229.138) on Wednesday, January 09, 2002 - 12:28 pm:

Interesting story, but it would mean a lot more if you told what city. Was it Louisville KY?

By Board Administration (Admin) on Sunday, July 23, 2000 - 12:36 am:

This is one of the leading historic events of the city's century of life. It was the first extensive conflagration from which the place had suffered, and the greatest in any period of its annals, in proportion to the size of the city. It is still traditionally known as the great fire. Beginning at midnight, in John Hawkins chair factory, between Main and Market Streets, on Third Street, it extended almost to the post office, then on the corner of Third and Market Streets, and north as far as Main. Thence moving down Main Street, every building burned to within two doors of the Bank of Louisville. Here farther advance was stopped, only to proceed across the street, where ten large buildings were consumed before the devastation could be stopped. In all, thirty buildings were burned and the loss counted up beyond $300,000. In the Main, the houses were importing and commercial stores, out of which many of the goods were saved. The burnt region was quickly covered, however, with buildings of a more durable character than before so that, in the end, the disastrous event may be reckoned as a gain to the city, rather than a loss.

Submitted to us by Claire
(E-mail withheld by request)