Albion, IA Fire
August 1904
Big Fire Loss at Albion. Town Was
Nearly Wiped Out of Existence.
Marshalltown, Aug. 4.-- The most
destructive fire that has occurred in this
county for years, at midnight Tuesday night
broke out at the Kubuka & Company drug store at
Albion, a little town seven miles northwest of
this city, and very nearly wiped the little town
out of existence.
The fire spread rapidly and was soon beyond
control. As near as can be learned the
conflagration started on the outside of a shed
in the rear of the drug store, and while no
investigation has been made officially,
persistent rumors are to the effect that the
fire was of incendiary origin.
The flames spread rapidly to the buildings
north in the same block, and in a very short
time about $14,000 worth of property was reduced
to a smoldering mass of charred timbers and
ashes.
The buildings, with one exception, were of
frame construction, and that building was only
veneered, and all those facing High street in
the town, in the same block, from street to
street and back to the alley were completely
wiped out, and had it not been for a few large
trees that broke the force of the heat and
flames, and plenty of hard fighting, the fire
would have undoubtedly have jumped the street
and destroyed all that part of the little town
lying north of the drug store in which the fire
originated.
The buildings of the Odd Fellows and Masons,
the best in the town, were among those
destroyed, and the Woodmen of the World lost
their outfits and their paraphernalia, which
they had stored in a rented hall.
The Humeston New Era, Humeston, IA 10
Aug 1904
Big Fire in an Iowa Town. Half of
the Business Portion of Albion is Destroyed.
Fire of unknown origin destroyed the building
and stock of drugs owned by
A. J. Kupka, and eight other small
business houses in Albion, Iowa. The
entire side of the principal business street in
the town was burned before the flames could be
gotten under control. The loss will not
exceed $15,000, partially covered by insurance.
Kupka & Co., drugs;
J. H.
Masterson, livery;
James J. Filer, drugs and
R. H. Stratton,
groceries, were the principal losers. Owing to a
scarcity of water the bucket brigade was unable
to make progress against the flames which were
permitted to sweep the entire section of the
street.
The Iowa Recorder, Greene, IA 10 August
1904
A. J. Kupka of
Albion, Iowa, has returned home to settle up his
losses and prepare to remove from that city.
The recent fire caused great damage to his
property, and heavy loss to his purse.
Disheartened and disgusted he will leave the
fire-smitted town for good.
The Iowa Recorder, Greene, IA 19 August
1904
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