1871 ~ Park Hotel ~ Big Fire ~ Principal Assaulted ~

ALLEN, CLIGGITT, KING, CONNELL, BORMEIS, SALE, MUMFORD

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 11/18/2014 at 12:27:26

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Monday, June 01, 1953
Mason City Centennial Edition, Section 3

PARK HOTEL

[Section 3, Page 15] The first large hotel built in Mason City was the Allen House, erected in 1871 by Dr. William Allen, on First and N. Federal across from Central Park. At the time this picture was taken in 1899, it was known as the Park Hotel. It is now the Adams block.

* * * * *

1872: TOWN'S BIGGEST FIRE - SCHOOL HEAD KICKED DOWNSTAIRS

[Section 3, Page 13] Tuesday, Jan. 16, 1872, was a red letter day in Mason City's history.

On that day the little community was convulsed and shocked when a leading physician of the town, Dr. William W. Allen, who was president of the school board, kicked the principal of the schools downstairs. The doctor was arrested and fined $7.50 for assault and battery. On Jan. 19 a public meeting was held and both sides of the controversy given a hearing.

Cliggitt in Charge
On Jan. 22, John Cliggitt, scholarly Mason City attorney, was placed at the head of the schools.

In later years the ousted principal became a federal judge in a western state.

But Tuesday, Jan. 16, 1872, was important for another big event. A fire that broke out at 2 a. m. destroyed three business houses on the east side of Federal, opposite the present Palace Theater site. Destroyed were King's Grocery, Connell's harness shop and Bormeis saloon. The hook and ladder company, made up of volunteers, performed all the heroic feats possible, but were reduced to the humiliation of throwing snow on the fire before the flames reached the roofs. Water from nearby wells was exhausted early in the proceedings.

Saved Buildings
Recalling the incident many years later, A. R. Sale stated, "Fire Marshal Mumford with the aid of a northwest wind saved his own building on the north and in gratitude to the assembled citizens who so valiantly assisted by throwing snowballs at the flames, as soon as the fire demons would permit, rolled out two barrels of beer from the saloon and four cheeses from the grocery basement and the assembled multitude made merry on the spoils.

"Following this banquet Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 and some select friends repaired to Col. Mumford's rooms where a feast of fried oysters and oyster stew as served up accompanied by various liquids all salvaged from the flames."

Park Hotel hotograph courtesy of Globe-Gazette
Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2014

Cerro Gordo Documents maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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