Fire at the Ann Arbor Car Shops

Just about six oclock Monday evening the fire alarm whistle at Owosso was heard to give its weird tones, and many of our citizens took the next car for the scene of the fire, which was found to be in the wood working shop of the Ann Arbor company.

The men in the shop stopped working at 5:40 p.m. as usual. A few minutes before six oclock an employe discovered flames issuing from the southeast corner of the wood working shop, which is located east of the brick building where the iron work is done. From all reports the fire started from a torch which some one had left burning. A spark fell among the shavings and instantly the fire spread in every direction. So dense was the smoke and so swift the spread of the flames that the employes from the master mechanics office, after breaking in a window, were not able to save the records which were in the extreme west end of the building.

The fire department was promptly on the spot and attached two lines of hose to the hydrant at the corner of Corunna road and Huggins street. On account of the size of the main, the force of the water was not as great as it should have been and one line was soon detached and another line of hose affixed to the hydrant at the corner of Dewey and Jerome streets and brought across the ice. Nothing could be done except to try to save the box cars on the track outside of the building. Inside, the flames raged, fanned by the wind. Nothing could be saved-- five box cars, a flat car and combination car and all the machinery and tools of the company and men were doomed to destruction. The shavings, oil, waste and everything in the shop was combustible and fed the flames. The firemen fought the flames bravely, but all they could accomplish was to save the box cars on the outside.

The contents of the shop, in addition to the material and machinery, consisted of five box cars and combination car No. 104, all under process of rebuilding or being repaired. Three cars on the outside of the building were badly burned. Two of the cars destroyed were being remodeled as sleepers for the new night trains soon to be put on.

The total loss to the company will foot up nearly $8,000 which is partially covered by insurance. About 50 men were employed in these shops and they lost their tools, which will average $50 apiece or a total of nearly $2,500.

Some workmen who happened to be working over-time, as the shops shut down at 4:50 standard time, were among the first on the scene. Upon penetrating a little way into the doomed building they discovered Fred Kenney, lying dazed and bleeding from a deep cut on the forehead, caused by stumbling against some sharp corner in the blinding smoke. George Fuller and another employe, a tinner, who arrived just in time to save Kinney from an awful death, carried him to his house, 425 Hamblin street. Mr. Kinneys face, hands and arms were parboiled from the terrible heat, and the cut up on his forehead was found to be dangerously deep. Drs Arnold, Hume and Crum cared for the injured man, making him as comfortable as possible, but they could not stay the hand of death, which came to the poor fellows relief at 11:45 the same evening.

From the tips of his fellow workman came the first intimation of another ter-rible fate. Kinney stated the he had seen Sanford Pease trying to remove his tool chest, and expressed a belief that he was still in the burning building, which was then nearly totally destroyed, the roof having fallen in. The firemen, who had made a gallant fight, turned their efforts to the finding of Peases body. At 6:40 A.J. Burke, of the hook and ladder company, uttered a shout that brought many of the other firemen to the spot. All that was mortal of Sanford F. Pease had been found, lying in death within twenty feed of the door, the passing of which would have meant life and safety. He had evidently abandoned the tool box and tried to escape by the door at the south side, but his strength had failed him and he had fallen face downward on the floor. When the news reached the waiting crowd that Peases body had been discovered, a groan went up, and Will Pease, son of the dead man, was brought forward to identify the charred remains, which had been placed upon one side to give him a clearer view. One look convinced the grief-stricken son that it was really his father, and he tottered out from among the smoking ruins to tell the wife and mother at home, all unconscious of the terrible blow she was about to receive.

The remains, which were so badly burned that they would not hold together, were an awful sight to the assembled crowd. They were taken to Knapp & Smiths undertaking establishment.

Besides his wife and a son, Will aged about 16, Mr. Pease leaves an adopted daughter, Emma, and a step daughter, May Huff.

Fred S. Kinney was born in Mecca, O, Feb. 10, 1862, and moved to Michigan when quite young. He came to Owosso in 1893 and worked mostly in the wrecking gang. Kinney recently lived in Corunna and was married here and leaves a wife and one child, who is about four years of age. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. A Kinney, together with two other sons, E. D. and C. H. Kinney, live on the Dewey farm. His sister, Mrs. E. S. Kerby, lives on Grover street, Owosso. Kinney was a member of the Owosso Mutual Benefit Association, and his family will receive a death benefit of one hundred dollars.

The funeral services were held at the late homes of the deceased, which are but a block apart, at two oclock on Wednesday afternoon, and at three oclock from the M.E. church in Owosso, Rev. W. M. Ward, of this city, and Rev. W. G. Nixon, of Riverside, officiating. The interment was made in Oak Hill cemetery.

This fire is a sad blow to Owosso, inasmuch as it doubtless settles for good the question of the permanent location of the Ann Arbor shops; and there is but little doubt that when rebuilt it will be at Durand.

More by Dennis Braid......

Although the date of the fire is never mentioned, a check with our local County Clerk (my wife Lauri Braid) finds the date of Monday December 16, 1895 on both of the deceaseds death certificates.

Little is known of the site in the late 1800s. We have a site drawing dated 1941 showing all the features and locations of structures we are aware of.

The Owosso shops were built in 1887 according to the booklet by Henry Riggs-The Ann Arbor Railroad- 50 years ago.

We have always been of the opinion that the roundhouse and backshop were built in the mid to late 1890s. This story seems to confirm that they existed in some form in December of 1895.

Do you suppose that our backshop, or an early version of it, was referred to as: the brick building where the iron work is done?

I went to the public library and did some more digging for this story. I found the following articles in The Evening Argus, an Owosso paper, referencing the Ann Arbor shop fire and the next two months. I will print them in part as follows.

December 17, 1895...HOLOCAUST

A sorrow has come upon the city of Owosso, not equaled for many years. It is not merely a sorrow for the loss of property and men thrown out of work, but is for the loss of human life which is far greater than the destruction of property. At six oclock last evening the fire alarm whistle was heard to give its weird, supernatural tones. This time it foretold a great loss to the city and to the homes that lost their bread winners and fathers of households. The word was passed from mouth to mouth, the Ann Arbor car shops are on fire! The heavens were lighted with the reflection of great conflagration. Before it was extinguished the Ann Arbor wood working shop was a heap of ashes with one human being consumed by the elements and another hovering on its border land.

Note: There is a VERY graphic description of Mr. Peases remains as found after the fire. I was a bit stunned as to its detail and dont feel it necessary to reprint.....Dennis.

Until about a year ago Mr. Pease was a member of the A. O. U. W., but the times being somewhat straightened he dropped his membership, somewhat against the solicitation of his friends. He owns a little home not fully paid for. Mr. Kinney carried a membership in an accident association from which the family may barely realize enough to pay the funeral expenses.

G. F. Fuller was one of the earliest to arrive at the fire. He passed into the south middle door and walked up the middle isle and out the north door, the fire gaining much headway that he dared not linger. As he walked around the northwest corner he saw men breaking into the windows to get the books and records of the freight office.

As he passed along further he heard the cry: I am dying. This came from near the door opening on to track No. 2. He stopped an instant to listen when he again distinctly heard: I am dying. He made a mighty effort and exerting all his power he managed to open the big doors.

The flames and heat almost overpowered him. It was a question of the life of a fellow mortal and he did not stop to think of his own life, but made another effort. He reached in and secured hold of Harry Kinney and pulled him out, Kinney seconded his efforts so far as his strength allowed. He was taken to his home.

During the fire General Superintendent Harry Ashby of the Ann Arbor road, who was in the city, was very active in trying to assist and direct where he could.

A number of freight cars were standing on the tracks west of the building. Deputy Sheriff Robinson with a gang of men uncoupled the cars and moved them back but not until some were more or less damaged. One car is probably so badly ruined as not to be rebuilt.

Fire Chief Smith and Assistant Edwards, with the firemen, fought the flames bravely, but all they could accomplish was to save the box cars on the outside. They were somewhat retarded by the necessary work of pulling out the cars, the hose lying across the cars. In this they worked under a disadvantage of trying to handle the long line of hose. Although there were hundreds of men standing around, Chief Smith could get little or no assistance from bystanders. Boys who should have known better amused themselves throwing snow balls, much to the annoyance of everyone except themselves.

This morning all of the old men who desired were given employment in cleaning off the debris. The charred pieces of timber were placed upon flat cars and moved away. The iron of all descriptions was placed in heaps. The men were busy as bees looking for their tools. Many were found but the temper of the steel was gone and they will be practically useless.

Mr. Peases son identified the body of his father by his watch, spectacles and tobacco pouch. He testified that his father got up from the dinner table upon hearing the alarm and ran and that was the last the family saw of him alive.

The Jury concluded that neither Mr. Kinney nor Mr. Pease were ordered to go into the burning building. The jury brought in the following verdict as to the cause of death of Mr. Pease: That the said Sanford M. Pease came to his death by suffocation from the heat and smoke, while venturing into the burning building after his tools, of his own free will and accord.

His watch, which was shown to the jury, had stopped at 7 minutes of seven oclock.

THE SHOPS MUST BE REBUILT

General Manager Ashley was non committal as to his future plans. He said the question of rebuilding would be talked over with and settled tonight. No time will be lost, however, as Superintendent Bradley and his force are hard at work making plans and specifications for a new shop. Specifications for new machinery have been sent out, asking for bids for immediate delivery. On average ten cars a day come to Owosso for repairs, so that some shop must be arranged for without delay. The general feeling among the employees is that Owosso will be favored, and a new wood working shop will go up within the next sixty days.

December 19, 1895

The Durand Express yesterday quoted from an Owosso Paper of Tuesday that the Ann Arbor Company: Would make no effort to rebuild the burned shop. The Owosso paper was seriously in error in the above as subsequent events have shown.

December 27, 1895

Engines 30 & 40 received. Work on the new Ann Arbor shops is going ahead nicely. The timbers are being mortised and ready for framing. Lineman McGraill is putting up electric lights which will be ready for business tomorrow night. There will be no ceasation in the work until the two buildings are complete.

February 8, 1896

Some of the new machinery for the mill shop arrived today. Engines 31 and 33 are in the shop for general overhauling. Asbestos lagging is being put on No. 11. Also, the latest improved drive brakes.

February 20, 1896

Night operator Frank Roberts of the Ann Arbor Railroad, recently measured for his new official uniform, is a little timid of his new suit. He is afraid that the many new bright buttons, with which it is adorned, might be taken for solid gold. Some fine night the hobos may knock him down, sit on him and think they had discovered a gold mine. It is reported that he has purchased a gun to defend himself.

February 29, 1896

All of the shops are as busy as can be and the work is being pushed so lively that visitors have to be asked to keep away. In the main shops are No. 6, 18, 32. The latter is almost ready to go out on the road. Engine No. 31 has been sent out good for 18 months of hard service. The company is determined to extend the capacity of its shops to the greatest extents possible and include every line of work that can be made by skilled workmen in Owosso. The last advancement in this line is the building of 3 iron bridges, two for Chilson and One for a mile north of Corunna.

H. L. Looker, the alert foreman of the blacksmith shop has made an original design to forge draw bar pockets by being pressed out by the steam hammer. They are being made as fast as the iron can be heated and fed into the iron monster. It is a great saving of time and necessarily expense.

The mill shop is the scene of great activity. The new machinery consists of a resawing machine, dimension planer, double surfacer, wood turning lathe, drill, swing cutoff saw and hand joiner, are in position. The pulleys and shafting are now being put up and it is hoped that sometime next week the machinery will be ready to start. A boring and mortising machine, ordered, has not yet arrived. All of the machinery is of the most improved design.

The erecting shop has just received a beautiful coat of red paint. The happiest man in the building is the faithful foreman V. Darling, who feels very much elated to think the machinery is nearly ready for work. Since the fire the men have realized how much more labor it takes to do good work with old fashioned tools. The mill shop is filled with four freight cars, a caboose, and the new sleeping car, all undergoing reconstruction. The woodwork of the sleeping car is of the finest kind and by the time it is passed by foreman Berry, of the paint shop, will be finished finer than a piece of parlor furniture, ready for some miscreant to take his jack-knife to cut and scratch the beautiful paint.

Too much credit cannot be given to all the employes of the company for the rapidity for which the shops, destroyed by fire, have been replaced and the citizens of Owosso should feel a just pride in their work.

Not bad, it took about 73 WINTER days.