LOCAL/FAMILY HISTORY DEPT. * DONNELLSON PUBLIC LIBRARY * 500 PARK AVE. * DONNELLSON, IA * 52625
MAK Project: Keokuk Building's Collapse
Mary Alma Powers Kay Project
As we begin this New Year, this article found in the Mary Alma Powers Kay files was about a terrible crash of a three-story brick building on Main Street in Keokuk, IA on July 14, 1893. Perhaps it will serve as a reminder to all of us just how unpredictable and ever changing life's challenges are. In an instant calm becomes chaos, and the Human Spirit emerges to meet the challenge. Because of the length of the account, we will bring this to you (verbatim) as a four part series.
TERRIFIC CRASH WITHOUT WARNING
WALLS FALL AND FLOORS FOLLOW
Three Main Street Business Blocks Tumble to the Ground
Falling Timber and Bricks Bury Four Men
John Real and Harry Young Badly Injured
Many Miraculous Escapes and Moving Scenes
At 7:13 o'clock last evening, the three-story brick building at Nos. 824, 826 and 828 Main Street collapsed with but a moment's warning, taking four men down into the ruins. The men were Harry Young, who is employed as a painter by the Keokuk Book and Stationery Company and resides at No. 1111 Bank Street; John F. Real, of No. 1409 Des Moines Street, pressman at the Gate City office; and Dan Stebinger, who lives on Main, between Eleventh and Twelfth Streets, and works for The Keokuk Brick and Tile company; and Chas. Junkins. Messrs Young and Real were badly injured, while Stebinger escaped with injuries less serious.
The buildings at Nos. 824 and 826 were owned by Andrew Wiley, of Sand Prairie, having been sold to him not long ago by the Burrows' estate. J. Burrows owned the building on the corner, at No. 828. The first floor of No. 824 was used by Mr. Wiley for the storage of flour, and Fred Brellon, who is employed at the lumber yards, occupied the second floor as a residence, with his family. The first floor of No. 826 was occupied by J. W. Shepherd and M. J. Real as a saloon. The front room of the second floor of this building was used as a reception and reading room by A. P. A. and A. Hoagland occupied the rear room as a carpenter shop. The hall which occupied the third floor of both these buildings was used as a meeting place by the A. P. and A. who had but recently moved into it. Mr. Burrows occupied the first floor of his building on the corner with a stock of groceries, his family living on the second floor, they having moved there but a short time ago.
All three of the buildings were old ones, having been erected in 1853. For many years they had been considered unsafe, and it was stated on many sides that the buildings had been condemned seventeen years ago. It was occupied then by the Turners, who had many social gatherings within its walls, but was vacated by them, since when the owners, these often opportune to do so, refused to allow dancing parties to be given. One week ago Monday night a dance was given in the A. P. A. hall which was largely attended, and it is thought probable that the jar started the cracks which culminated in last night's collapse. Not many years after the completion of the buildings, and just before the war, the third story hall was used as an armory, and military companies drilled there. Even then, it is stated, the building was not thought to be overly secure.Mr. Burrows and his family were at supper in their rooms over the store, when they heard a peculiar noise in the cellar. Mr. Burrows ran down and discovered that a portion of the foundation wall between his building and the next one had split off and fallen to the ground. He quickly summoned Mr. Shepherd from next door and when the two examined the place there was a short grinding noise as if the wall was moving. Mr. Shepherd told Mr. Burrows to get his family out without delay and hastened away to notify the occupants of the other buildings of the impending danger. In the saloon were M. J. Real, one of the proprietors, his brother John Real, Harry Young, Dan Stebinger, Charles Junkins, and Robert Gilles. Part of these thought Mr. Shepherd was joking when he gave the alarm and did not give quick heed to the warning. Those that did got out safe. Mr. Brellon and his family were warned and all got out, with the exception of a little child, who was found safe and sound after the accident. George Hixon, who was at supper with the Burrows family assisted them in getting out.
The collapse came at 7:13 o'clock or not more than a moment before. The wall started to give way at the point where the weak spot in the foundation had been discovered, and everything back of that spot crashed to the ground with a loud noise. The partition walls toward Ninth Street, throwing the outside walls ahead of it. The flooring in No. 826 having no support on the Ninth street side fell in and the floors above crashed down on top of it. All that was left standing of the three buildings was in the shape of an L, being the entire frontage of the three buildings, the side wall of No. 824 and a part of the back wall. The noise and dust made by the accident immediately attracted people from all directions, who came rushing to the scene. A fire alarm was turned in and the whole department responded. The police force was soon on the ground and ropes and barriers were stretched about the building to keep incautious ones back out of possible danger. John Real, Harry Young, Chas. Junkins and Dan Stebinger were taken down in the ruins. Stebinger was not fastened and made his escape by the back way suffering only a few bruises about the head. Junkins was saved by the ice chest which held the ceiling off of him and crawled quickly to a place of safety, almost uninjured.To Be Continued in February's Newsletter . . . . . . . . . .
~ Researched and submitted by Brenda Anderson
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