Winnebago County, Wisconsin - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 37 of those read), 1880

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 37 of those read)

The Great Conflagrations of 1874, and of April 28, 1875 - Destruction of the Business Portion ofthe City - Rebuilding of Oshkosh - Rebuilt Oshkosh - List of Structures Erected in 1875.

\ Ma\' 9, 1874, a fire broke out in a itter pile of straw and manure adjacent to a barn belonging to Spalding & Peck. The fire was discovered when the blaze first started, but before it was reached with water, it ignited the barn, and as a furious wind was blowing, the flames rapidl)' spread to lumber piles and adjacent dwelling houses. It soon became uncontrollable, and the sheet of flames swept everything! before them. The fire crossed Warren Street, burning up the buildings on two entire blocks, then leaped across Pearl Street, sweeping everything comubustable in its track. Then crossed High Street, to Algoma Street, where its further progress was arrested. Thirty odd structures were consumed in the conflagration, and the loss was estimated at $45,000. Insurance on the same, $32,900. It was followed by the great fire of July 14, in the same year, (1874). This fire broke out in a stable in the rear of McCabe's Block, on upper Main street, and laid waste all the compactly built portion of Main street above the Beck\\ith House, and all of North Division street. From there it spread, burning nearly every building in its course for a distance of more than a mile from the point of its origin. Several persons were so overcome with the intense heat and their e.xertions to save life and property, that they were carried nearly lifeless from the scene. One ofthe saddest occurrences during this fire was the death of William P. Taylor, City Treasurer, who was internally injured by his

Oshkosh, with her usual energy, built up the entire portion of Main street that was burned, before the winter set in, and about half of the residences. During this year, i Sj 4, some scvc/i liundi-cd structures were erected in various parts of the city, and it was demonstrated that although fires might burn up Oshkosh, they could not paralyze her energies or courage, nor check her rapid growth, which continues with undiminished vigor in the face of the greatest discouragements. She now set herself to work resolutely to meet her old enemy with opposing forces, and fire-proof structures took the place of the combustible wooden buildings that had so long menaced the safety of the city and invited the devouring elements. All the compactly-built portion of upper Main street was rebuilt, during the same year of the fire, with fire-proof buildings. The progress that Oshkosh made in building during that year surpassed anything of the kind that ever occurred before in the history of cities. Over 700 structures were erected in one summer in a city of a population of 17,000.

But she was destined to distinguish her capacity on a still grander scale; for the next year was to witness the complete transformation of the city by the destruction and rebuilding of its chief business centre. This was the

Grea Test Of The Great Fires

GREA TEST OF THE GREAT FIRES. It was a turning point in her history, and is undoubtedly the concluding chapter of her great fire calamities - for the new Oshkosh is built on a foundation of safety. The old wooden buildings have disappeared, and her business center is now exclusively brick and stone, with metal roofs.

The following description of the great conflagration of April 28, 1875, is from the Oshkosh Nortlnvcstcrn, written by C. W, Bowron, city editor:

The Beginning

It was about one o'clock P. M., and while the wind had reached its greatest fury, that the startling whistles screamed out the alarm of fire all along the line of mills and steam factories. It w as a fearful day, and ten thousand souls started in wild excitement as they heard those first peals of the alarm whistles, and well they might. The deep volume of smoke, thick and black, that rolled up from Morgan's mill, showed too plainly what danger might be expected. Hardly had the great crowd gathered from all directions, when the spreading flames were already coiling and winding around the huge lumber piles that lay adjoining the mill. The wind was too strong, and the volume of flame too sudden for effective Operation on the part of anybody. Great chunks of burning cinders came floating over into the lumber piles more adjacent to Main street, and they quickly caught. A fierce fight was waged among these piles; but the cinders became too numerous, and the ignitions too frequent to be baffled. The wind was blowing from the southwest. On came the rushing tide of flame, more furious than the descending floods of Mill River. The steamers seemed powerless to check such a fearless adversary. No sooner could they get set at work than the enemy would charge with bayonets of fire, and drive them from their work.

It bOon became apparent that it would sweep everything before it, and the merchants on Main street began to more seriously consider the situation. In less than twenty minutes the fire had swept from Morgan's mill to the Milwaukee & St. Paul depot and freight house, and they were swept away like leaves in a blast furnace. The fire ripped through the planing, sash and blind mill of Lines, Libbey & Co., leaped to the sash, door and blind factory of Geo. Williamson & Co., taking the mill and yard of James & Stille in its course, and swept down to the planing mills of Bell & Rogers aud Ben Henze, on Market street. In the meantime it had veered to the northward, up Light street to High, taking the Northwestern House and the large frame buildings opposite. The grocery store of W. H. Ballou, corner of High and Light streets, caught fire, and the flames swept along eastward, demolishing the handsome brick residence of J. C. Spalding, corner of High and Bond streets.

The Fire Reaches Main Street

Thompson & Sprague's livery stable finally caughtfire, and being a large wooden structure * filled with hay and combustible matter, served to scattei- fires all over the buildings on the west side of Main street. The first point of contact on Main street was in Wright's wooden block, ne.xt to S. M. Hay's brick building, and directly to leeward of the livery stable. From this building the flames traveled with terrible swiftness in each direction, burning up ^o^- dirds the Northwcstcrji ofiice on the north, and spreading to the row of wooden buildings south from Hay & Bro's. store.

The Sight On Main Street

When the flames swept over Main street, the sight on that and on adjoining streets beggars descprition. For a time those having stores and business places along Main street, had great hopes that the fire would bear to the river, and would be kept from crossing Division street. When at length there was no doubt upon that point there was no time to be lost. Everything was in the wildest confusion. There was running to and fro in not haste. Teams were eagerly sought for, empty vehicles were ravenously seized, and the sacking of those beautiful stores, and the piling of goods promiscuously into wagons, carts or any available conveyance, commenced in good earnest. The clerks in R. L. Digger's had the omnibuses employed in removing their goods, and every available truck was employed by the dry goods interests in that vicinity, to remove their goods to a place of safety. But, in spite of their untiring efforts, the dry goods men suffered large losses. The smoke became blinding, and the strife along Main street was terrible. Unbridled horses let loose from the livery stables, came dashing through the crowded streets; running teams came tearing by, while the yelling from man to man became perfectly terrifying. It was a wild scene which pen cannot picture. MAIN STREET NORTH OF HIGH. The part of Main street north of High street was attacked in a different direction, and from an entire different source than that south of High Street. The doom of the Postoffice was what settled the fate of that part of the street. From the Postoffice the fire quickly crossed to the rear of the fine brick rows between High and Algoma, consigning them to the general ruin. The rear end of the Beckwith House caught from the burning of Mrs. Bailey's building, corner of Algoma and Division streets, and this, together with the Cottrill Block next to it, were totally destroyed, the walls falling with a terrible crash. The upper story of Cottrill's block was used as a lodge room by the Good Templar lodge of this city, and by Forward Grange, P. of H.

Harding Opera House

With the destruction of the Beckwith House came the fall of the Harding Opera House. The fire first caught in the large windows of the Temple of Honor, and the wooden balcony which projected in front. It was sad to see this finest place of amusement in the city, and one which the citizens of Oshkosh had so long desired and so lately got, fall among the general ruin; but there was no water or any facilities to work with to save it, aud the heat from the tall brick buildings opposite was very intense. The Temple of Honor, which occupied the large front hall, saved everything but their billiard table.

The Limits

Boles' block marks the south limits of the fire on Main street on the west side. It was hard Svork to check it here, but the building being fire-proof, about fifty men with buckets, succeeded in saving it. Undoubtedly thesaving of this block was the means of saving the city offices, the Revere House and all that portion of Ceape street not burned.

East Of Main Street

The fire swept onward east of Main street as far as Bowen, taking everything in its path between Washington and Ceape streets, including the north side of Washington street for about two blocks, with all the beautiful and costly residences on that fashionable thorough fare.

The Presbyterian church on Jefferson Avenue, in the rear of Harding's Opera House, followed suit, and Dr. Barber's residence and those of Marshal Harris, Dr. Goe, W. B. Felker, C. E. Wefton and a score of others soon followed them.

The fire raged with tremendous fury down Otter street, spreading from the Adams House to the German Church, and swept through, laying everything waste with fearful rapidity, till it reached Court House street. The residences of Dr. Wright and J. E. Kennedy were burned, and Wm. Hume, Henry Bailey, next east of the Court House, were also reduced to ashes. The fire kept on its furious raid unchecked until it reached Bowen street, where it turned northward, and on Waugoo street, went a block be}-ond. -I

A view of the great conflagration from the top of a tall building, presented a sublime, yet an awful picture. Standing to the northward of the fire, on Main street, the scene was grand in the extreme. The whole area of the burnt district was burning at the same time. The buildings west of Main street had not yet burned down, while the flames had already spread far to the eastward, and the whole surface of the scene was one lurid glare of writhing, twisting, mocking flames. To the west, the farther buildings were mostly gone, while the tall walls along Main stood for a moment tottering and swaying, then fell with terrible roar and crash. Far to the eastward, the house tops seemed but the playground of a thousand dancing demons reveling in the dire destruction of the hour. The steeple of the German church on Otter street, and the dome of the Adams House shone up amidst the blaeknesj

Small dwellings afar to the eastward, looked ;ike so many bon-fires in some e.xciting cele- Dration, while men, women and children, away lown beneath, looked like pigmies in frantic gesture, hastening to and fro. The scene was \ild, awful, grand. Chaos ruled monarch of :hehour, and man was dumb with awe.

After The Battle

Night came on, and as darkness stole gradlally upon the footsteps of the retreating sun, he scene was changed. Excitement and anxous fear gave way to quiet despair and resiglation. Tired humanity, rela.xed and weary, jegan to seek a rest and refuge from the toils ind fatigues of that awful day. Woe-begone md half discouraged, the outcast and the lomeless began to gather their little store ibout them and seek a shelter from the raw light air. Where the hundreds went to, and vhere they found a roof to shelter them, is a nystery. Even before the fire, house room vas scarce, but now it seemed almost an imposlibility to find it But the unpleasantness of he circumstances was relieved, in a measure, )y the kindness and sympathy of those who vere among the more fortunate. All who had t corner of room freely offered it to the iufferers.

View By Night

The view of the city by night from a disance was picturesque. The night itself was earfully dark, and the red reflection from the -uins lit up the hazy atmosphere with a soft adiance, making a most beautiful sight. The ;hin smoke curling up from the heated tiass of brick and mortar, looked like incense burning upon some mighty altar. The long ne of light, half vivid, and half smothered n the darkness, gave a distinct outline of the (urnt district. The tall, black buildings still emaining, loomed up in perfect outline upon he light beyond, like dark and solemn specres upon a moonlit sea. The ruin was over, destruction had wrought its work, and the reat day died like a Dolphin.

Deaths Doings

One of the saddest things connected with 11 the sad things of the great fire was the leath of Thomas J. Davis, who yielded up his ife in heroic efforts to avert what proved in he end to be the greatest conflagration ve have ever seen. At the time the fire broke lut, Mr. Davis, with another man, was load ng lumber near the mill of Morgan & Bro.

Thinking of the chemical fire extinguisher, which was generally kept in the office, he hastened to it, strapped it on his back, and mounted the high platform that fronted the mill. At this time Mr. Morgan was on the roof of the mill. The front doors of the mill hung like great flaps, being hinged at the top. Mr. Davis, with the help of his companion, succeeded in raising the door sufficiently to admit him and the extinguisher, and he disappeared amidst the smoke within. Nothing was seen of him for several minutes, although the flames and smoke began to belch out of the doors and the gable-end of the mill above.

The door was raised and propped up with a stick, when out rushed the unfortunate man, the extinguisher gone from his back, panting, choking, writhing in the agonies of his terrible suffering. His clothes were almost wholly burned off, and his body under hisarms horribly burned. His sufferings were awful to witness. He could but barely tell those who crowded around him, that after getting into the mill the flames broke out in terrible volumes behind and all around him, and he was forced to run a horrid gauntlet of flame and fire. Before reaching the door he was obliged to leap through solid volumes of roaring flame. He was removed to Dr. Russell's office, and when it became evident that that, too, must burn, he was carried on a mattrass to his residence. He was about unconscious when he reached there, and lingered until about halfpast nine o'clock in the evening, when death put an end to his misery. Mr. Davis was a Welshman, about thirty-five years of age and an exemplary man in every particular. He left a wife and five children. A purse of over $300 was made up among the friends of the afflicted family.

Another death ^\'as that of Charles Dunn, an old man, who was crushed to death by the falling of the walls of the Harding Opera House. He was squeezed into jelly, his head being crushed into a shapeless mass of flesh and bones. His body was carried to Stringham's Elevator, where it was viewed by crowds of curious people.

Ihe Burned Dirtrict

The burned district consists of a strip over a mile long and something over a quarter of a mile wide. Its boundaries may be briefly stated as follows; Starting from Morgan's Mill, on the river, it runs northeast to the corner of Pearl and Light streets, thence north on Light to High Street; east on High to Bond; north on Bond to Algoma Street, thence northeasterly across the corner of Main and Algoma streets, taking in the southern portion of the block north of Washington Street, between Main and Mount Vernon streets; east on Washington Street, taking in several houses on the north side of the street, till it reaches Bowen Street; making a circle southeast, it comes back to Bowen on Otter Street; thence back on Otter, to Mill Street; down Mill to the alley between Otter and Ceape streets; thence west to the Court House; the line then continues on Ceape to Main Street; thence north to 43 Main Street and the Eagle Foundry, and along Marion Street to place of beginning. THE LOSS. The loss, as near as can be estimated, will reach nearly $2,500,000. The assessed valuation of the property destroyed was about $1,750,000.

List Of Business Houses Burned

Printing Offices. - K\\<t\\ & Hicks, Northzvestern and stationery store; Fernandez & Co., Times; Kohlman & Bro., Telegraph and book-bindery; Kaime & Livermore, Independent; Sarau & Weidner, job office and bookbindery.

Planing Mills, and Sash, Door and Blind Factoi'ics. - Lines, Libby & Co., G. M. Williamson & Co., Kitz, Newell & Brown, Bell & Rogers, Ben Henze.

Miscellaneous. - I. J. Hoile, seed store; H. S. Janes, glazed sash, Jones & Frentz, abstract office; J. R. Loper, soap and candles; Burdick, Roberts &Co., rotary harrow; Alfred Chappie, stone works; J. H. Ward, plow shop; Daniel Pratt, cooper; Wm. Waters architect; Bell & Rogers, architects; Mrs. Billings, patterns; Mrs. Davis, hair goods; C. R. Hamlin, United States Deputy Marshal; A. K. Osborne, Collector United States Internal Revenue; United States Postoffice; City Library; Alf Ford, fruit and confectionery; W. D. Curtis, match factory; Northwestern Telegraph Office; V. E. Dake, plated ware; Pratt & Son, spring bed factory; Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad depot; police station; Germania engine house; Wolf River Boom Company; City Surveyor's Office; S. Nash, auctioneer.

The Oshkosh Fire, April 28, I 875

A fair city smiling lies Underneath the April skies, Rears aloft its steepled crests, Where the swallows bviild their nests. Massive blocks of brick and stoue Show what enterprise has done ; Tasteful homes and gardens fair Show that wealth resideth there. Mills stand on the river's side, Lumber floats upon the tide; Rises smoke from furnace throats, Loaded are the passing boats ; While, like hum of monster tops, Sounds the labor of the shops. ' Gazing up at April skies,

To mingle in the flaming fray, and battle with the foe, "Who every moment sendeth higher His breath of smoke and tongues of fire. The hurrying crowd, with gleaming eyes and faces pale as death. Sweeps on to where the Demon stalks, in all his fiery wrath. They see his thousand lurid flames, in triumph spreading faster, And vainly strive to beat them back, for Fire to-day is master. And slaves who bondage break. The worst of tyrants make.

He shakes on high his crested head, in scorn at man's endeavor. Breaks every bound and rushes by, a swollen, flaming river, Which, gathering strength as it rolls o'er blocks of wood and stone. Becomes a mighty molten flood, whose fiery breath alone.

Hissing, roaring, whirling, leaping on their blazing ( Melting granite, as a furnace melts a heap of softest wax ; Sweeping through the sternest iron, as through walls of driest flax,

Stately mansion, humble cottage, block of brick and wood; Buildings that were half completed, buil lings that for years had stood; Lowly workshop, mill gigantic, feeble store and massive bank, AU beneath the flood of lava, in one common ruin sank ;

Swept this flood of fiery ruin on that fearful, fatal day. Seized with fury unrelenting, on its unresisting prey, Happy homes rbduced to ashes, haunts of vice in ruin fell. And the place in smoke and cinders, glowed with all the fires of heU, Or what is much the same. Glowed with a burning sea of flame.

he. Overhead the flood had painted flaming colors on the sky, Flags triumphant, banners crimson, showing all the victor's glow, O'er the blazing triumph gathered in the siege below; For 'twould be a species of insanity If every Wctor didn't show a Uttle vanity.

surge, 'Till their blazing column's gathered at the very river's verge. There they faltered in confusion - fiery strength and fury gone- Turned to sparks and smouldering embers, and the day of wrath was

Thus Heaven, in kindness, has decreed One element may stay another's greed. Where the fiend foimd strength and beauty, left he but a blackened plain. Like some field of bloody battle covered with its thousand slain ; Smoke and ashes, frowning ruins, crumbling walls on every side, Marked the place where splendid buildings once had towered in their pride. Gone were all the grace and beauty of the structures man had made, All the pride of this fair city in the tomb of ashes laid ; Gone, the labor years had taken, gone like fleeting of a breath. Wealth ana spiendor, grandem-, glory, swallowed up in fiery death. For Fii*e, Uke Death, his brother shark. Is prone to "love a shining mark." While the past is desolation, in the future Hope is flying; Sijilt our milk is, therefore let us waste no time iu useless crying. Gird our loins up, seize the hammer, sound forth labor's cheering cries, Till once more we see our city in its strength and beauty rise. For who win spend his time in weeping over home and fortune slain. When liis tears, though like a torrent, will not bring them back again ? Who will idly gaze distracted on the scenes of fiery strife? Folded hands and eyes of anguish cannot bring the dead to life. "Let us then be up and doing, with a heart for every fate, 'Still achieving, still pursuing, learn to labor and to wait." Remembering that 'tis said the Heavenly Host Giveth him the greatest help, who helps himself the most.

Fallen are its steepled crests, Where the swallows had their nests ; Massive blocks of brick and stoue Into dust and ashes gone. Tasteful homes aud gardens fair Scenes of desolation are. ALills upon the river's side, Swallowed up by flaming tide, Furnaces that poured forth smoke Into sombre ntius broke ; Workshop's hum, that went aud came, Vanished in a sheet of flame. Like some fair garden of the Lord Hewn and hacked by fiery sword; Under mournful April skies Our sad city wailing lies, Fallen are its steepled crests, Where the swallows had their nests.

Rebuilding Of Oshkosh

A visit to the City of Oshkosh, now so vigorously springing up from the ashes of its late fire, discloses to the most casual observer the fact of its recuperative force, and the great vitality of its business resources.

The work of rebuilding is being pushed forward with great vigor, and everything indicates that spirit of enterprise and business activity for which Oshkosh has been distinguished.

The courageous enterprise manifested must arise from the firmest faith in the future prosperous career of the place - a faith that is not only well sustained by the splendid progress in the past, but which a knowledge of her unbounded resources for trade and manufacture will conclusively show to be well founded.

Two months have not elapsed since the fire, and during that time several brick blocks have been erected; many more are well advancedin their construction; and on nearly every other site of the business portion of the burnt district, foundations are being laid and building material stored in readiness for immediate work.

Bricklaying is an extensive business in Oshkosh at the present time, and the incessant click of the hundreds of mason's trowels adds a new chord to the music of Oshkosh, and minglessonorously with the noisy chorus of her machinery and business hum.

It would be naturally supposed that such a fire would have paralyzed the hopes of a community; but no sign of despondcnc)' is to be seen in Oshkosh. These peopleare determined to build up a city here worthy of the beautiful and advantageous site it occupies. They will succeed even beyond their highest anticipations, for nothing can check the progress of a place like this.

No one can become familiar with the beautiful and fertile country surrounding Oshkosh, and look at its magnificent river, 600 feet wide at this point, flowing from the great forests of

Northern Wisconsin, and floating to this city their timber products, and the splendid sheet of water, Lake Winnebago, and the steamers and sail craft which ply in every direction, to the Mississippi on the west and Lake Michigan on the east - without seeing the plainest evidences that Nature has laid here the foundations for a city of large proportions, and one that must necessarily be a great manufacturing and business center. The immense quantities of commercial timber, in the shape of hard wood, as well as pine, in the country to the north of Oshkosh, on its tributary rivers, and the vast deposits of iron ore, which can be shipped south on the line of its demand through the forests which furnish the fuel for its manufacture, must ever make this region one of

GREAT MANUFACTURINC; ACTIVITY. This tract of forest land also comprises large bodies of the finest grass and grain lands in the West. The country is well watered and not subject to droughts. There is every variety and character of soil and face of country, from the sandy, and rough, and rocky, and mining lands, hay-marsh, cranberry bog, cedar and tamarack swamps, to the very finest sugarmaple lands, comprising nearly whole townships in a body - the latter as fine farming lands as can be found in the West, with all the coveted advantages of rich soil, best of timber, plentifully supplied with the purest of running] water - spring brooks, large rivers and beautiful lakes; with railroads, business and manufacturing facilities, and a healthful climate.

Business Development

This country has but just been opened up to settlement by the railroads. Its trade and business are developing with wonderful rapidity; villages and manufacturing hamlets are springing ud along the lines o) the railroads. The manufacture of pine lumber and hard wood lumber, staves, spokes, wagon and furniture timber, now constitute the principal articles of manufacture, to which must soon be added iron work; and the various staple iron manufactures: for, let it be understood, that the railroads run fronthe iron and copper mines southward, througl the great tract of timber and farming lands, b) which the ore can be moved to meet the fue on the very lines of its natural shipment an< ultimate demand. The lines of road traversi ing this country must necessarily become i continuous hive of industry, and pour ai immense trade into the first available busines: center; and Oshkosh is the point. This plainly foreshadowed.

great forest tract and uniting at this point with Lake Winnebago and its continuous water communications east and west. The flow of trade from the North naturally runs to the west side of Lake Winnebago. This is the line of the direction of the demand of its products, and here is the natural center of trade and business between it and the beautiful prairie and open country which stretches from here away to the south and west.

The country immediately surrounding Oshkosh, and, in fact, the adjoining counties, is among the most fertile and beautiful in the West - prairie and woodland commingled with lakes and rivers.

The resources of Oshkosh stimulate a growth which no disaster like her great fire can suppress. Last year over seven hundred buildings were erected, and this year, although the great fire destroyed the business portion of the city, its rapid progress is unchecked.

Safety From Fire

The danger of fire, so long menacing Oshkosh, is now, in a great degree, removed. The large quantities of combustible material which were stored in such dangerous proximity to the business portion of the city, are now torever banished by a city ordinance to that effect. The old wooden buildings are all destroyed in that locality, and nothing but fire-proof structures are to be permitted to take their place. The safety of the city from further conflagration can be very readily secured, for very few cities have better natural facilities for protection. The splendid river, 6oo feet wide, which bisects the city, forms an effectual barrier of non - communication and gives an immense water frontage, with an ever ready and most available supply of water at the immediate points of greatest danger. There is no doubt that Oshkosh will profit by her experience and avail herself of her superior advantages to secure immunity from any further extensive conflagrations, and that the city is rebuilt on a foundation of safety.

Delightful Residence Sites

DELIGHTFUL RESIDENCE SITES. It is rare to find a place with such fine business facilities, possessing so many attractions as a place of residence The wealthier classes, the business and professional men, of large cities, are glad to find pleasant places of residence from ten to twenty miles from their places of business, where their homes are exempt from the stifling, impure air, heat, dust and smoke of the crowded marts; while the citizens of Oshkosh have, within ten or fifteen minutes' carriage-drive of their business center, the most delightful sites for suburban residences, embracing a lake front of surpassing beauty. The drive to Winneconne discloses a most picturesque view of lake and river, and beautiful slopes of prairie, groves and cultivated fields. The shores of Lake Winnebago, a most magnificent sheet of water, and the finest yachting waters in the West, are among the most beautiful situations for suburban residences to be found in the countr)'. The shore in the immediate vicinity of Oshkosh, and for several miles, has a fine gravelly or stony beach, with many beautiful points and bays. Steamboats, sail craft and pleasure yachts ply its waters, and add additional attractiveness to the lovely scene. No finer location can be found for a delightful watering-place and summer hotel. It is surpassing strange that such an opportunity should have been so long over-looked, and I call the attention of those who are looking to enterprise in that direction to this most attractive place.

Rebuilt Oshkosh

A year ago, Oshkosh built up a half mile of upper Main Street, which had been formerly destroyed by the great fire of that year, and this year she performed a similar operation on a scale of greater magnitude, being the whole business part of the immense burnt district which was laid waste by the memorable conflagration of last April. She now enjoys the distinction of being the only bran new city, with all the modern improvements, that was ever built in the short period of one year.

Although so terribly scourged by the two great fires which, in one year, burnt up two miles of the densely populated portion of the city, including nearly the whole of its business buildings, hardly a trace of the fire can now be seen on the business streets. Her fire scars were healed over in a single season, and her calamity is forgotten in the prosperity which attends her vigorous enterprise.

The Work Accomplished

The structures erected in Oshkosh during the summer of 1875, were: One hundred and twelve fire-proof stores, two first-class hotels, twelve manufacturing establishments, two school buildings, one elegant opera house, two bank buildings, five churches, fifty-six buildings comprising frame stores, mechanic shops, livery stables, etc., and 284 dwelling houses - being 476 buildings in all. Nearly ten miles of sidewalk have been laid, and upper Main street has been graded and graveled, and long lines of sewers constructed. Of the residences, over half are elegant and costly structures. The business streets are metropolitan in appearance, with their palace stores and magnificent plate-glass windows of the largest size. Main street, for nearly a mile, is compactly built up, there being but three vacant spaces on lower Main, the scene of the spring fire. It presents a splendid appearance in its long line of handsome new structures.

The change effected by the fire has completely transformed the place. The old wooden structures were all swept away, and the old familiar landmarks have disappeared forever. It was hopefully predicted, early in the summer, by the local papers, that half of the business portion of the burnt district would be rebuilt by fall. The progress of Oshkosh in this instance, as in all others, has surpassed the most sanguine expectations. Instead of half the space being filled up, it is nearly all rebuilt, and more than fifty of the finest structures have been erected on lots formerly vacant or occupied by frame buildings. In fact, a building mania prevailed, that seized upon every available place with a determination to fill the whole thing up, and it has accomplished its purpose. One remarkable feature of this unparallelled rebuilding is that it is very generally paid for. There is but a trifling indebtedness as the business property in the burnt district is principally owned by men of ample means.

The local wealth of Oshkosh is rarely equalled by cities of its size. The average deposits in its three banks is nearly $1 ,000,000. This, in connection with the heavy capital invested in some seventy manufacturing establishments and the large class of mercantile houses, makes a sum total which plainly tells the story of the business capacity of the place. Oshkosh, therefore, renews her business career under the favorable circumstance of freedom from burdensome indebtedness. Her business firms, with one or two exceptions, all resumed business immediately after the fire, and although there were individual losses involving large amounts, their solvency was unshaken. There was probably never another instance of such a wholesale destruction of property attended with so few failures. The business men of Oshkosh asked no compromise with creditors, and amid the loss and wreck of their property, and the great discouragements of the interruption of their business and lack of facilities, they prompth- met their demands.

The municipal indebtedness is comparatively nothing, being only some $70,000. The city has invested largely, too, in local improvements, but they are paid for. Her school buildings are among the finest in the State. One of them is the State Normal School, towards the erection of which Oshkosh contributed some $30,000 - and the Oshkosh High School buildings, v.hich cost about $40,000. Several of the Ward Schools are fine buildings, costing from $10,000 to $20,000 each. In the construction of two magnificent bridges, 600 feet long, the width of the river, which bisects the city, $50,000 was expended. There are over twenty miles of graveled streets. Algoma and Washington streets are almost one continuous line of three miles of elegant residences.

The value of manufactured products for the year 1875, is over $4,000,000. Although Oshkosh is a great lumbering center, rough lumber now constitutes but little over onethird of the value of her manufactures.

Fifty other frame structures were erected during the -eason, comprising frame stores, livery stables, barns and mechanic shops; also five mechanic shops of brick.