The Great Fire of 1889

historicphoto271: 45.Fire of 1889.1

In the 1880s, Bakersfield was growing rapidly. Its people lived with great hope and looked forward to a bright  future. None could have imagined the utter devastation, which awaited them on July 7, 1889. On that day, a fire so monstrous it became known as the “Great Fire” ripped through Bakersfield’s thriving business district.

It is purported the fire started in or near the Kelsey residence on 20th Street between Chester Avenue and I Street. The story goes Mrs. Kelsey was cooking dinner on a gasoline stove when the fire erupted. The volunteer fire department responded promptly and hooked into a cast iron hydrant located in front of the old Southern Hotel at the corner of 19th Street and Chester Avenue. The hydrant was connected to the Scribner Water System, which was supplied by pumps and wells at the southeast corner of 17th and Chester. Unfortunately, the system was not strong enough to douse the flames.

The fire spread from Kelsey’s Undertaking & Furniture Store to the Hayden & White building and to the Echo building. From there it ignited the new Southern Hotel and jumped across the street to the west side of Chester Avenue burning everything in its path all the way to 17th Street where the skating rink was located.

 


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