On Christmas morning 100 years ago, the spirit of the season was darkened for the residents of Mahanoy City.
“Mahanoy City was visited early Christmas morning by an intense fire in the heart of the business section,” the Shenandoah Evening Herald reported. “It was one of the worst fires in the city’s history.”
The fire, which started around 1:50 a.m. on December 25, 1924, destroyed six businesses and caused an estimated $500,000 in damage.
The damage could have been worse had it not been for two brick buildings on either side of the fire, stopping its spread.
Hampered by temperatures of 10 degrees and an icy wind, it took several hours for firefighters from Mahanoy City and surrounding towns to get it under control.
“Without the excellent work of the firefighters,” the newspaper reported, “it is difficult to say where the fire would have ended.”
The fire is believed to have started in the basement of the Majestic Pool Room at 27 W. Center St., a building owned by Abe Franklin’s estate.
Firefighters were able to get water on the basement fire, but the fire got out of control and spread to 29 W. Center St., the Lackawich Jewelry Store and the home.
It was one of the largest jewelry stores in the city and full of diamonds and expensive jewelry.
“This building soon became a seething furnace,” the Herald reported.
The flames spread to the upper floors of the billiard room and jewelry store and spread to 31 W. Center St., Kennedy’s Cut-Rate Drug Store, owned by Daniel Oberson of New York.
“This too soon fell prey to the fire,” the Herald reported, “and the flames leaped high into the air.”
From there it jumped to Morris Freid’s store at 33 W. Center, and Carl Dakes’ candy kitchen at 35 W. Center.
A “roaring furnace,” as the Herald put it, the fire was beyond the control of Mahanoy City fire crews and they called for help.
Shenandoah’s Columbia and Polish-American companies responded. So did Tamaqua, Girardville and Ashland.
“Streams were played on all sides of the burning buildings, and after a hard struggle the fire was contained and eventually brought under control,” the Herald reported.
A strong wind fanned the flames and embers were carried over several blocks.
Residents of the burning buildings fled into the freezing weather in their nightwear. They were taken care of by neighbors.
“All had decorated their homes for Christmas, and are keenly feeling their losses,” the Herald reported.
For Ms Lackawich, it was the third time her home had been hit by fire, the newspaper reported.
Jacob Erbe, a Tamaqua firefighter, fell from a ladder. He was treated on site by Dr. David Holland and then taken to Coaldale Hospital. Another Tamaqua firefighter was overwhelmed by smoke.
The Kline Building, which was constructed of brick, extinguished the fire on the east side. It suffered some fire and water damage.
The cause of the fire was undetermined in the immediate aftermath. When the billiard hall owner left the building, everything was fine, he told the fire brigade.
