Lancaster NY Fire 1894

Date: 4 Apr 1894 [unknown]
Location: Lancaster, Erie, New York, United States

Documenting the Lancaster Fire of 1894

[In PDF format]

On Thursday April 5, 1894, residents of Buffalo New York read from the Evening New that the Village of Lancaster had been swept by a fierce fire.

“A strong wind which changed twice swept the flames in every direction, and this morning nothing remains but a blackened and smoldering mass of timber and brick.”

The fire started late Wednesday night and burned for more than four hours. It remains one of the landmark stories in the history of Lancaster. The following pages reproduce two accounts of the fire and supplement those accounts with additional materials.

The first account is from the Buffalo Evening News. It tells the story of the fire with some degree of specificity, albeit with an unnecessary tone of arrogance. The story nevertheless provides the reader an overview of what took place that night. The second account of the fire was printed in the Lancaster Times. This account did a better job describing the progress of the fire as it moved from building to building. Images, maps, and background clips are mingled with the text from the newspaper.

Swept by Fierce Flames
Buffalo Evening News, April 5, 1894

Almost the entire business section of Lancaster was wiped out of existence by fire last night. It started a few minutes after 10 o’clock and burned steadily for over two hours.

During that time a dozen of the most important stores and some of the finest residences in the place were destroyed. If it had not been for the timely appearance of an engine and hose cart from Buffalo the chances are that every house in the village would be in ruins today. As it is the damage will reach almost $100,000 and it is estimated that the insurance is not over one-third that amount.

The blaze started in a barn owned by Mrs. Edward [should be Emil] Mosack on Central avenue. She used the place as a slaughter house, for Mrs. Mosack keeps a meat market. Flames were dashing out of all sides of the barn when the fire was discovered.

The new spread rapidly from house to house, and in a short time the volunteer firemen had their little hand engine out and were doing everything in their power to extinguish the blaze. But they were badly handicapped by a fierce wind that swept across the village from the lake, and in a short time the flames had spread to Mrs. Mosack’s store, and that structure was burning fiercely.

The firemen worked nobly to confine the flames to that building, but they were unsuccessful. The blaze, fanned by the wind, leaped over to the adjoining structure, known as the Raynor Exchange, and the flames were soon licking up that building.

This was a three-story brick block and one of the largest in the village. The lower floors were occupied by Robert Mileham and Anthony Suttell, saloons, and John Vacant, a barber shop. The upper floors were occupied as lodge rooms by the Knights of the Maccabees, the Lancaster Lodge of Odd Fellows and the A.O.U.W.

The flames burned fiercely in the block for half an hour, and in spite of the efforts of the firemen the building was entirely destroyed.

The fire spread to a two-story frame building owned and occupied by Frank Schaefer as a shoe store. The firemen sprinkled that structure with water and made a brave attempt to save it from destruction, but their efforts were fruitless. The building was burned to the ground 15 minutes after it caught fire.

By this time the residents of Lancaster were almost panic stricken. The wind had increased in violence, the firemen were almost exhausted from their hard fight with the flames and were losing courage, and the shower of sparks that arose from the ruins of the Raynor, Schaefer and Mosack buildings threatened to set fire to every house in the town. It was decided to send a call to this city [Buffalo] for assistance. Chief McConnell got the message calling for help, and he ordered Engine 8 and its hose cart down to the Erie depot. A special engine had been made up to take the engine out, and it made quick time. And as the Buffalo fire apparatus was unloaded from the cars a great cheer went up.

In the meantime the sparks from the Schaefer building set fire to the two-story structure owned by Mrs. Schaffler and occupied by grocer Louis Brass. The upper floor was used as a photograph gallery by H.H. Halbert. It burned down. Jacob Stephan’s big brick block adjoined Mrs. Scheffler’s building and it was believed his place would go also. Fortunately for him the wind shifted at that juncture, drove the flames in an opposite direction, and Stephan’s building escaped with slight damage.

South of Mrs. Mosack’s store the flames did tremendous damage. The wind drove the fire to the building occupied by M.M. Schwartz & Co. Schwartz occupied the upper floors as living rooms. He made a great fight to save his place, but could do nothing to stay the fury of the fire. Nothing but the glowing walls of his structure were left 15 minutes later.

Next to Schwartz’s place was the blacksmith shop of Martin Ebelhard [Uebelhoer], and it was splendid food for the fire. It was entirely destroyed. Jacob Kaiser’s saloon adjoined the blacksmith shop, and it too was destroyed.

The fire took an unexpected turn at this juncture. The wind veered around again and drove the fierce flames across the street, a distance of 150 feet, and leaping they enveloped the building owned by J.P. Sommers. Mr. Sommers occupied the ground floor as a saloon. The Lancaster Club rented the upper rooms. The structure quickly burned to the ground, as was Anthony Bussman’s jewelry store adjoining.

The next to suffer was the house owned by Judge William H. Grimes, ex-attorney for the New York Central road. Judge Grimes had the finest house in Lancaster. It was at the corner of East Main Street and Central avenue and was built several years ago. A shower of sparks set fire to the house in a dozen places at the same time and it was impossible to save anything from the hungry flames.

Today nothing is left of the place except a mass of charred wood and irregular crumbling walls. Dr. Samuel Potter’s house near to Judge Grimes was the last to go, and just as the flames reached his place the special Erie train containing the Buffalo apparatus dashed into the town.

The villagers by this time were almost exhausted from the unequal battle they had been waging to save their property and they welcomed the Buffalo firemen with cheers.

The Buffalo firemen made short work of the fire after they attached their hose and got to work in earnest. After drenching the mass of ruins for half an hour their work began to tell, and half an hour later they had the fire under control, and an hour later it was out, and the people got a chance to survey the damage. The loss will probably reach $100,000.

FIRE!
Lancaster Times, Thursday, April 5, 1894

At exactly half-past ten o’clock last night our citizens were startled by the cry of fire and the ringing of the fire bells, fire having been discovered in Mrs. E. Mosack’s barn, in the rear of her butcher shop on Central avenue. A high wind was blowing from the southwest at the time and the flames soon spread to the large frame building in front used as a butcher shop and residence by Mrs. Mosack. The fire department responded promptly, but the flames spread so rapidly that Mrs. Mosack’s entire building was a mass of flames before they could get to work.

In less than ten minutes after the fire had started it had spread to the Raynor Exchange, a large brick building which was separated from Mrs. Mosack’s building by a narrow driveway, and this building was also consumed in a very short time. Mr. Frank Schaefer’s shoe store, a two-story frame building adjoining the Raynor Exchange on West Main street, was the next to catch fire, and it was also destroyed. From this building the flames communicated with the two-story brick building owned by Mrs. Gertrude Scheffler and occupied by Mr. Louis Brass as a grocery store. The upper rooms were occupied by Mr. H.H. Halbert as a photograph gallery and Mr. John Vacant as living rooms. A barn in the rear of this building was also destroyed. Here the flames were stopped by the heavy brick wall of Mr. Jacob Stephan’s store on West Main street. This building was slightly damaged.

Before the fire

• Emil Mosack was a butcher who “took charge of his … finely equipped meat market on the 1st of September 1881.” In April 1882 the Times wrote “The market is kept stocked up with every variety of meats and sausages, and a large and constantly increasing business is carried on” (Times, April 27, 1882). Emil Mosack married Rosa Schrankel in 1879. He died in October 1891, age 37, leaving Rosa to run the meat market as a widow with four children.
• Our enterprising shoe man, Mr. Frank Schaefer, is again at the front, having purchased [in 1890] of Mrs. Scheffler the store which he has occupied for the past five years [since 1885]. He is making some needed improvements and will in a short time have a store that Lancaster may well be proud of. (February 13, 1890)
• The Raynor brick block at the corner of West Main street and Central avenue has been undergoing repairs the past week [in October 1892]. It has also been newly painted, and now presents a very neat appearance. (October 27, 1892)
• Mr. Louis Brass has purchased the stock of groceries of Mrs. Gertrude Scheffler and rented her store on West Main street. He will take possession on Saturday, December 3rd [1892]. Mr. Fred Wannenmacker will also occupy a portion of the store with his stock of Jewelry, which he will remove from the Greis building on Mondy, Dec. 5th. (December 1, 1892)
• [Jacob Stephan] has been a resident of the town for many years. About a year ago he embarked in the mercantile line and is conducting one of the leading stores of the place. Mr. Stephan carries an extensive stock which fills three store rooms and which embraces general dry goods, groceries, wall paper, crockery and glassware, and flour and feed. (January 18, 1894)
• Shortly after seven o’clock this morning [July 27, 1893] fire was discovered in the Scheffler Block on West Main street. The fire department responded promptly, but it was some time before the fire was extinguished, as the building seemed to be burning at not less than five different places. The damage to the building is about $100. The first floor is occupied by Louis Brass’s grocery store and Fred Wannenmacher’s jewelry store. Both stocks were slightly damaged by water. Nearly everything in H.H. Halbert’s photograph rooms on the upper floor was ruined. (July 27, 1893)

FIRE!
(continued)

Extending south on Central avenue from the Mosack building the fire spread to the large three-story brick building owned by Mr. Mathias Schwartz, and occupied by M.M. Schwartz & Co. on the ground floor. The second floor was occupied by Mr. Schwartz as living rooms, and the third floor by Lancaster Lodge No. 70, A.O.U.W., Loyal Lodge No. 480, I.O.O.F., Arnim Lodge No. 225, K. of P., Empire Knights of Relief, and Lancaster Tent No. 240, Knights of the Maccabees. This building was entirely consumed. Mr. Martin Uebelhoer’s one-story blacksmith shop adjoined this building on the south, and was entirely destroyed, as was also Mr. Jacob Kaiser’s saloon, a two-story brick building which stood south of it.

Before the fire

• Mr. M. Schwartz, one of our youngest and best-known merchants [in 1882], took possession of his large and handsome dry-goods and notion store, at the south end of Railroad street [now Central Avenue], near the American Hotel, on Dec. 20th 1879. (April 27, 1882) Michael Matthais Schwartz (1859-1942) was a son of Matthias Schwartz (1827-1907).
• Martin Uebelhoer. The blacksmith and horse-shoeing establishment located next to the Farmer’s Hotel was started over fifty years ago by Wm. H. Grimes. In the neighborhood of thirty years ago [1852] it was sold to Abraham Kurtz, who had charge of it until eight years ago [1874], when he sold it to Kurtz & Uebelhoer. The business was continued by this firm until about seven years ago [1875], when Mr. Kurtz sold out his interest to Mr. Uebelhoer, who has continued the business ever since at the old stand. (April 27, 1882)
• In the early part of May, 1875, Jacob Kaiser assumed charge of the Farmer’s hotel. This popular place of resort by farmers and the general traveling public was thoroughly repaired and renovated this spring [1882], and is a comfortable and cheap stopping place. (April 27, 1882)

FIRE!
(continued)

The flames leaped from the west side of Central avenue to Judge Grimes’s large brick residence and Mr. J.P. Sommer’s brick and frame building on the east side, destroying both of them. Mr. Anton Bussman’s small frame building, just north of the Sommers building, was also consumed. From Judge Grimes’s house the flames spread to his large brick barn, which was soon in ruins.

The next building to go was Dr. Samuel Potter’s brick and frame barn. From here the flames spread to the doctor’s house, which was the last building to burn.

A portion of Dr. Potter’s and Judge Grimes’s furniture was saved.

The large brick buildings owned by Mr. Peter Link and Mrs. M. Winling on the north side of West Main street were slightly damaged, many of the front windows being broken by the heat. It was with great effort that these two buildings were saved.

FIRE!
(continued)

At about eleven o’clock a message was sent to Fire Headquarters at Buffalo asking that an engine and crew be sent out at once. Engine No. 8 was ordered out and a train made up on the Erie road. On the way to the train the engine ran into a dirt cart and the pole was broken, causing a delay of fifteen or twenty minutes. It was nearly one o’clock when the first stream of water was thrown into the fire by the Buffalo engine, and at two o’clock the most disastrous fire that ever visited Lancaster was under control.

Too much credit cannot be given the efficient work of both the Lancaster and Buffalo firemen.

The losses on buildings and personal property will aggregate over $100,000 … Two horses owned by Mrs. Mosack perished in the flames.

With a good system of water works at least $90,000 worth of property might have been saved, and it is hoped that before we have another experience like that of last night Lancaster will be in better shape to meet it.

Thanks to Buffalo Firemen
Language seems too poor to adequately express the gratitude of our people for the noble efforts and assistance of Buffalo’s firemen during the terrible experience Wednesday night.

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The following distribution of damage was printed by the Buffalo Evening New:

Mrs. Mosack's market, barn and contents, $1000; the Raynor Exchange building, $15,000; Robert Mileham, saloon, $6,000; Anthony Suttell, saloon $6,000; John Vacant, barber, $600; Frank Schaefer, store and contents, $8,000, insured $4,000; Scheffler’s two-story brick, $5,000; H.H. Halbert, photographer, $1,000; Jacob Stephans, $200; Matt Schwarb [Schwartz], three-story brick, $1,000; Schwartz & Co., dry goods $6,000; Schwartz furniture, $1,000; Odd Fellows and other lodges in same hall, $1,000; Martin Ebelhard [Uebelhoer], blacksmith, $1,200; Jacob Kaiser, furniture, $10,000; J.P. Sommers, building and contents, $5,000, insurance $1,000; Anthony Bussman, jewelry, $6,000; Judge Grimes, residence, barn and contents, $15,000; Dr. Potter, residence and barn, $6,000; the Lancaster Club, furniture, $500.

The Lancaster Times provided a somewhat different distribution.

The losses on buildings and personal property will aggregate over $100,000, and as far as can be ascertained are itemized as follows: Mrs. Mosack meat market, barn and contents, $10,000, partially insured; Mathias Schwartz, brick building, $8,000, insurance $2,000; M.M. Schwartz, stock and household goods $7,000, insurance $2,000; M. Uebelhoer, blacksmith ship, $800, insurance $450; J Kaiser, saloon, $4,000, insurance $2,000; Raynor estate, Exchange block, $10,000, insurance $4,000; A Suttell, saloon fixtures and furniture, $1,200, partially insured; Robert Mileham, saloon fixtures and household goods, $1,000, insurance $500; John Vacant, furniture, etc., $500; Louis Brass, grocery stock and household goods, $2,000, partially insured; Mrs. G. Scheffler, brick building, $5,000; W.H. Grimes, house and barn, $12,000, insurance $7,500; J.P. Sommers building and furniture, $8,000, insurance $1,000; Dr. S. Potter, house and barn, $7,000, insurance $4,000; Frank Schaefer, shoe store, stock and furniture, $8,000, partially insured; Anton Bussman, house and jewelry, $1,500, no insurance; Lodges, $500; Lancaster Club, $50.

One Week Later
Lancaster Times, April 12, 1894

• The Raynor exchange will be rebuilt.
• Mr. and Mrs. M.M. Schwartz have taken up their residence with Mr. E. Oehm.
• Mr. Robert Mileham has moved into Mr. Fred Grampp’s house on Holland avenue.
• Mr. and Mrs. A. Suttell are residing with their daughter, Mrs. Henry Scheifele of Lake avenue.
• Mr. John Vacant, who had a barber shop in the Raynor Exchange, has moved to Buffalo.
• Mr. J. Kaiser and family have taken up their residence in the Richey house on Central avenue.
• Mr. Louis Brass, whose loss was about $2,500, as stated in our last issue, carried an insurance of $2,000.
• Mr. Frank Schaefer and family are living in the upper rooms of Mr. Albert Geyer’s house on Central avenue.
• It is estimated that no less than 2,000 people from Buffalo and the surrounding towns viewed the ruins of the fire on Sunday.
• Judge Grimes and Dr. S. Potter will each build a hansom residence on the sites of the ones destroyed by last week’s fire.
• The London, Liverpool & Globe Insurance Company had allowed Judge Grimes $1,000 on the loss incurred by the burning of his barn.
• Mr. M.M. Schwartz, agent for the American Palace Steam Laundry, now has an office at the “Two Johns” barber shop on Central avenue.
• The adjustors of the German American and Niagara Insurance companies are expected any day this week to adjust the losses on property insured by them.
• Mr. Bussman’s vault resembles an old-fashioned bake oven and proved to be no better than an oven as a place of safety for valuables, as everything stored in it was consumed.
• The A.O.U.W. and I.O.O.F. lodges have rented Mr. F. Balthasar’s hall on West Main street, over the People’s Clothing store. The A.O.U.W. will meet there for the time to-night.
• Mrs. E. Mosack, whose entire building was destroyed, will erect a three-story brick building about 30 by 60 feet in size. [She ultimately erected a frame building] Mrs. Mosack’s loss was about $7,000 on which she carried an insurance $3,500.
• Mr. Frank Schaefer has decided to erect a two-story brick building on the site of his old store, and will commence work as soon as the weather will permit. Mr. Joseph Adolf has the contract for the work.
• Mr. Mathias Schwartz has not yet decided to rebuild his brick store, but if he does rebuild he will put up a building that will be a credit to the town. Mr. Schwartz, whose loss was $8,000, had no insurance.
• Mr. J.P. Sommers will build a two-story brick building 24 by 36 feet, on the site of his old building. Mr. William Sandel has the contract for the brick and mason work and Mr. Joseph Adolf for the wood work.
• Lancaster Mutual Fire Insurance Association loses about $1,600 by the fire. The Raynor estate carried $1,000, Mr. Robert Mileham $540 and Arnim Lodge No. 225, K. of P., $100 insurance in this company.
• Mr. Frank Schaefer is the first of the business men who were burned out to resume business. He opened a shoe store in the Cushing block on Tuesday morning and is now ready to meet the wants of his many customers.
• Mr. Jacob Kaiser has let the contract to Mr. Joseph Adolf for a frame house which will be erected at once just south of the one destroyed by the fire. Mr. Kaiser will also put up a building on the site of his old one but will occupy the frame house until the new building is completed.
• Mr. H.H. Halbert, our popular photographer, has purchased a portable photograph gallery, 14 by 30 feet in size, and having received permission of Mr. Michael Young, will place the building on Central avenue just north of Mr. S. Young’s grocery store. Mr. Halbert will be in shape by the last of this week to meet all of his old customers and the public general. Mr. Halbert’s work needs no eulogizing at our hands. He is without doubt, a superior artist. He has no superiors and but few equals.

Rebuilding after the fire
Items taken from the Lancaster Times:

• Mr. J. Kaiser's frame building is up and enclosed. (April 19, 1894)
• Mr. M. Uebelhoer is making arrangements to rebuild his blacksmith shop on Central avenue. (April 19, 1894)
• A large force of men has been at work clearing up the ruins of Mr. J.P. Sommers's burnt building since Monday, and the work of rebuilding will be commenced at once. (April 19, 1894)
• Mrs. E. Mosack is moving into her brick house on Central avenue, opposite Knauber's planing mill. All persons having unsettled accounts with her are requested to call and settle the same at an early date. (April 19, 1894)
• Dr. S. Potter, Judge Grimes and Mr. Frank Schaefer are clearing their lots of the debris of the fire preparatory to rebuilding. (April 26, 1894)
• The foundation for Mr. J.P. Sommers's building is completed. (May 3, 1894)
• Mr. P. Link has had new plate glass put into the front of his building on West Main street, in place of the small windows broken by the fire. (May 3, 1894)
• Mr. Mathias Schwartz has decided to rebuild his store on central avenue. The work of clearing up the ruins of the old building is being pushed rapidly forward. (May 3, 1894)
• The Raynor estate is having plans made for a three story brick block, to be built on the site of the burned Exchange block, corner of Main street and Central avenue. (May 3, 1894)
• Mr. Joseph Adolf is building a two story frame blacksmith and wagon shop, 24 by 34 feet in size, for Mr. Martin Uebelboer, on the site of the one recently destroyed by fire. (May 3, 1894)
• The Niagara Insurance Company has paid Mr. Louis Brass $1,681, the amount of his loss by the fire. Mrs. Mosack, whose building was insured in the German American Company, will receive $2,000, the full amount of her insurance. (May 3, 1894)
• The house on the Town Hall site, which was sold at public auction last Saturday, was purchased by Mr. Anton Bussman for $525. He will move it onto his lot, adjoining the town prperty, which was made vacant by the recent fire. (May 3, 1894)
• Mr. John Vanderdorf of Rochester and Mr. Joseph Adolf of this village, who were appointed to appraise the losses of Messrs.. Frank Schaefer, J. Kaiser, P. Link and M. Winling, and Mrs. Gertrude Scheffler, caused by the fire of April 4th, have finished their work in a manner satisfactory to all concerned. (May 3, 1894)
• Mrs. E. Mosack has let the contract for her store, which will be two full stories with Mansard roof. W.H. Klentz & Son have the contract and work will be commenced at once. (May 3, 1894)
• Mr. M. Uebelhoer's blacksmith shop is nearly completed. (May 10, 1894)
• We understand there will be quite a rivalry between Judge Grimes and Dr. Potter to see who can build the handsomest residence. This is as it should be. Both have the means to put up buildings that will be ornaments to the village. (May 10, 1894)
• W.H. Klentz & Son have commenced work on Mrs. E. Mosack's building on Central avenue. (May 24, 1894)
• The walls for Mr. Frank Schaefer's building are going up at a lively rate, and with good weather will be completed in a week or ten days. (May 24, 1894)
• The new barn of Mrs. E. Mosack on Central avenue is up and enclosed. (June 14, 1894)
• The frame for Mrs. E. Mosack's new building on Central avenue is going up rapidly. (June 14, 1894)
• The foundation for Mr. W.H. Grimes’s residence is nearing completion. (June 21, 1894)
• Mrs. Mosack’s building on Central avenue is going up rapidly. (June 21, 1894)
• Mr. M.M. Schwartz has let the contract to Mr. Frank Oehm for a large three-story building to be erected on the site of the store recently burned on Central avenue. The new building will be of brick, 30 by 60 feet in size, and will have all the modern improvements. The front will be of pressed brick. The first floor will be used as a dry good store, the second as living rooms, and the third as a hall. (June 21, 1894)
• The traces of the big Lancaster fire are rapidly being obliterated. Mr. J.P. Sommers’s new brick building is nearly completed and will be ready for occupancy in a few days. Mr. Frank Schaefer’s new shoe store, which is a handsome and substantial three-story brick building is also nearly finished. The lower floor will be ready for occupancy by July 1st. Mrs. E. Mosack’s large three-story frame building will be completed by August 1st. The foundations for the Raynor block and Mr. J. Kaiser’s building are completed, and work on Mr. M.M. Schwartz’s three story brick building has been commenced. The Raynor block will be built of brick and will be three stories in height. The foundations for Mr. W.H. Grimes’s residence are completed. This will be one the handsomest residences in Western New York. The first story will be built of Medina brown stone and the upper story of brick. Dr. S. Potter will also erect a handsome residence. Mr. M. Uebelhoer has occupied his new blacksmith shop for some time. All the new buildings will be of better material than the old ones destroyed by the fire, so that Lancaster will gain greatly in looks by this calamity. (June 26, 1894)
• Mr. John P. Sommers has moved into his new brick building on Central avenue. (July 5, 1894)
• Mr. Frank Schaefer has moved his stock of shoes into his fine new building on West Main street. He now has the handsomest store in Lancaster. (July 5, 1894)
• W.H. Klentz & Son have the contract for erecting the Raynor building at the corner of Central avenue and West Main street. (July 12, 1894)
• Work on Mr. W.H. Grimes's residence is progressing rapidly. It will be a fine structure. (July 19, 1894)
• The brick walls for the Raynor building at the corner of West Main street and Central avenue are going up rapidly. (July 19, 1894)
• Mr. William Hurlburt, the popular contractor, is doing the mason work on the new Raynor Exchange, which is going up rapidly. (July 26, 1894)
• The walls for Judge Grimes’s residence are up and the roof is now being put on. (August 30, 1894)
• The Raynor and Schwartz buildings are now up three stories, and will soon be roofed in. (August 30, 1894)
• Mrs. Mosack’s new building on Central avenue will be ready for occupancy by the 15th of September. (August 30, 1894)
• Mrs. E. Mosack’s new building on Central avenue will be finished this week. It is a fine three story frame structure and is finished throughout in Southern pine. The lower floor contains a meat market and store, besides dining rooms, kitchens, and pantries for two families. The second story is divided into living rooms, and the third story contains a large hall suitable for lodges, etc. The building was erect by W.H. Klentz & Son and is, like all the work done by this firm, first class in every respect. (September 6, 1894)
• Mrs. E. Mosack will open her new meat market on Central avenue on Monday, October 1st, with a full line of choice meats, etc. (September 27, 1894)
• Mr. M.M. Schwartz’s new brick block on Central avenue is now nearing completion. The contractor for the brick work was Mr. P.J. McGuigan, who certainly deserves the credit of putting off his hands the completest job in point of work and finish that can be seen in Lancaster. Mr. Frank Oehm, in whose hands the carpenter work has been placed, is giving a testimonial to his mechanical skill in the splendid manner exhibited by the work thus far done. Mr. Oehm is a conscientious workman and familiar with the minutest details of his business, so that when Mr. Schwartz’s building is completed it will be standing testimony to the skill and conscientious workmanship of our friend Frank. (September 27, 1894)