We
recently wrote about the devastating fire in Elk River in 1898. We also mentioned the efforts towards fire
prevention with brick construction in the business district. The Star
News on August 3, 1899 reported a new, advanced, method of fire
suppression: The Houlton Block building installed a “system water works”
running through the building with the help of a “hydraulic ram.”
Added
benefits to this new system, the Riverside Hotel connected to the system to
provide water to the rooms, and “free watering trough” in front of the hotel
would also be fed by this system.
The
Elk River fire of 1898 devastated the city.
Like a phoenix rising out of the ashes, Elk River in the post fire days emerged greater and stronger than ever.
Just a few years later, another fire in the city inspired the creation
of public utilities and construction of the first Elk River water tower.
Lessons
learned from these tragedies were quickly applied to the growth of a great city
in Sherburne County.
Elk River circa 1898 prior to the fire
