100 years ago: Disbelief, suspicion as citizens of Harrison, ID, reel from fire

Residents of Harrison, Idaho, were still in shock as they tried to assess the magnitude of the disaster that had befallen their city the day before.

About 11 city blocks, including most of the business district, were destroyed by fire, The Red Cross was distributing coffee and sandwiches to the many residents burnt out of their homes. Emergency supplies were brought in from Spokane and Coeur d’Alene.

Meanwhile, residents of Harrison were dissatisfied with Gov. Moses Alexander’s investigation into the cause of the fire. Gov. Alexander came to Harrison and his verdict was that the fire had been started by a spark from a switch engine that set a drying shed on fire at the Grant Lumber Company.

However, some of the employees of the lumber company testified that they saw unidentified men running from the drying shed only a few minutes before the fire was reported. Many residents were convinced that members of the Industrial Workers of the World (Wobblies) had started the fire.

“They admit that they have only circumstantial evidence and second-hand testimony to support their charges that members of the I.W.W. started the flames,” said The Spokesman-Review.

Several of the city’s key merchants said they would rebuild. However, they issued a caveat. They said they would not rebuild at all unless wooden construction was prohibited and all new construction was fireproof. They did not want wooden buildings imperiling their new buildings.

Meanwhile, the city asked Gov, Alexander for $5,000 to combat a more immediate threat. Two acres of wooden slabs and sawdust were still smoldering on the waterfront. They could burn for weeks and imperil the town again.