From History of Western Maryland, Vol 2, by Scharf, 1882
The conflagration which occurred at Lonaconing Sept. 7, 1881, destroyed all that business portion of the town extending from the Merchants' Hotel on Bridge Street, near the Cumberland and Pennsylvania depot, to Main Street, and on both sides of Main Steet to Castle Run, taking in about ten acres of ground. Eighty-three persons were burned out of homes and business places, and the total loss was estimated at from $100,000 to $150,000, upon which there were $65,000 insurance. The fire started in a stable in rear of P.T. Tully & Co.'s store, on the east side of Main Street, about 12:15 pm, just as the family of Mr. Hanlon, one of the firm, were sitting down to dinner. Had the fire broken out at night there would have been a terrible loss of life, so rapidly did the wooden structures, which were built very close to each other, burn. After the stable caught, the fire extended to the store, and there being a wind blowing, which shifted several times, the fire swept along Main Street as far north as the building extended, and as far south as Bridge Street, where Brady's Hotel stood. It then swept down Bridge Street to the railroad, where it destroyed several buildings on the west side, the last building burned on that side being the Merchants' Hotel, kept by William Atkinson, who also kept a store adjoining. Here the fire stopped. Among the lucky merchants whose property was saved was Peter Peebles, who kept a general merchandise store opposite the Merchants' Hotel; W. E. Henshaw, John S. Combs, and John Ryan, in the same line of business. One hotel only escaped, that kept by Mr. Jackson, near the depot.
The largetst and most valuable buildings burned were those of D. R. Sloan & Co., Rechabite Hall, the German Lutheran church and parsonage, Dixon's Hotel (on Main Street), the Merchants' and Brady's Hotels (on Bridge Street), and Joseph Meyers' row of buildings on Bridge Street.
Within one hour after the fire started the Westernport fire department arrived and did good service with a little hand-engine called "The Old Defender," which, up to a short time prior to the fire, belonged to the Pioneer Engine Company, of Cumberland, and which did valuable service in the Cumberland fire of April 14, 1833. It was sold to the town of Westernport for three hundred dollars. The steamer from Cumberland would not work, and the Cumberland firemen, who were willing and anxious to do anything in their power, were obliged to return home after a short stay on the scene. Had there been an engine of any kind in Lonaconing at the breaking out of the fire, much valuable property could have been saved. Fortunately, the principal loss fell upon those who were able to rebuild, although many lost everything. The list of buildings burned, with estimated losses and insurance, so far as can be ascertained, is a follows:
the large stable, two-story frame building, and general merchandise store of P.T. Tully & Co., loss $10,000, insurance $6,000; Mr. Hobinghall, loss $4,500, insurance $3,000; Sampson's double block, valued at $5,000; H. Edwards & Co., general clothing establishment, $5,000; Thomas Engleby, general merchandise, loss $12,000 insurance $6,000; McKenley, butcher, loss not known; Williams' butcher-shop (the last two in buildings belonging to G. H. Fresh), Sowder's bakery, a barber-shop, and Dean's saddlery, loss $7,000, insurance $2,000; Scott, a shoemaker, Margin's confectionery, Baughman's wholesale liquor house, David Davidson's grocery, and Joseph Myers' row of building, valued at $20,000, insurance $5,000. In this row were Mr. Eichorn, furniture saved; Samuel Barber, tin-shop; Jack Williams, barber-shop; Mr. McCousland, jeweler. These were all on one side of Main Street. On the opposite side were Samuel Barber, Jr., tin-shop, loss $1,000; James Bogan, confectionery; Brady's Hotel, Stable-house, carriage-shed, and Kavanaugh's saloon, loss $10,000, partly insured; then west to James Dickinson, confectionery; David Dickson, hotel, corner Bridge and Main Streets, loss $5,000, partly insured; D. R. Sloan & Co., two-story brick (the only brick store burned), loss $18,000, insurance $12,000; Sloan & Douglas' drug-store, $2,500 loss, insurance $1,700; O.T. McDonald, dentist, loss $1,000, no insurance; Lloyd Durst, butcher; Stafford's saloon, loss $350; Lizzie Bell & Brother, general merchandise, loss $15,000; H. R. Kimmel & Co., furniture, loss $2,000 in goods, $3,200 in cash; John Perry & Son's residences and general merchandise store, loss $2,000, insurance $9,000 [over-insured or typo? Perhaps the loss was $12,000?] On Douglas' Avenue Dr. Williams' two-story frame, W. Mongan's two-story frame, and Mrs. Bell's, John and David Peebles', and John Bell's houses were destroyed; also a building used as a school-house belonging to the George's Creek Coal and Iron Company. Crossing the bridge, the flames swept up Bridge Street, and up the railroad, consuming the Merchants' Hotel, loss $12,000, insurance $6,000; W. McIndoe, post-office, loss $2,500; David and Solon Koontz four houses, $3,200, and Mrs. Donaldson's dwelling, $600, belonging to M. Bannon.
James Carrigan, a tailor from Baltimore, located in Frostburg, had his arm cut off in jumping from the special train containing the Cumberland engine when it arrived at Lonaconing. David Dickson was badly burned, being forced in one instance to pass through the flames to save his life; James Hohing had his wrist burned by a falling joist; Edward Lewis, of Frostburg, had his arm and neck burned, ad Robert Sommerville, of Barton, had hs foot badly sprained. Hector Bell lost five hundred and twenty-five dollars in hair material and hair-work; insurance, two hundred dollars.
During the fire the streets were filled with intoxicated men, and there were numerous fights. There was a great panic, and whisky-barrels were broken open and their contents drank by boys and men. The Cumberland and Pennsylvania depot had a narrow escape. The Cumberland Telephone Company lost several hundred dollars in poles and wires. The diaster was the most serious that has happened in the county since the Cumberland fire of 1833.
