On This Day: Fire claims much of Coudersport

Fire claimed much of Coudersport, reported the Lancaster Daily Intelligencer On This Day in 1880. Coudersport is located well north of Lancaster, in Potter County. It is home to approximately 1500 people. On 18 May a fire destroyed much of the town.

The fire began in an oil warehouse in the rear of the Stebbins Bros. store. Several buildings were completely destroyed, including: the Coudersport Hotel, the post office, E. A. Reese’s store, the newspaper building, Z. J. Thompson’s wagon shop, all the blacksmith shops, the drug store, the pharmacy, and so many more.

The loss is estimated (at that time in 1880) at $200,000. Many of the homes and businesses destroyed were not heavily insured.

Source:

Lancaster daily intelligencer. (Lancaster, Pa.), 19 May 1880. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress.

On This Day is a prompt I started this month to further explore historical events.

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