$6,000 blaze! Our citizens were thrown into a frenzy of excitement on Sat. afternoon last at about 2 o’clock by the cry of “fire!” It was soon discovered that the large tobacco barn of the Messrs. Goodall & Campbell, situated on the north-east corner of Van Buren and Union streets was the seat of the fire.

The flames had assumed such gigantic proportions when the alarm was given that efforts to save the barn were not made and the saving of the other buildings was the thing in order. The two story dwelling on the NW corner of Van Buren and Union streets occupied by Mr. Van Cleve Hendrickson was the first structure to invite the devouring element.

Strenuous efforts were made to save it, but to no purpose. It was soon wrapped in flames and succumbed to the devastating element, not however, until Mr. Hendrickson and assistants had saved most of household goods in a badly damaged condition.

The fire ended up destroying also a house occupied by Jacob Stein. A carpenter shop was torn down to save other buildings and a few others were damaged. There was no insurance on any of the buildings. Destroyed in the Goodall & Campbell buildings were some farm implements, hay, two buggies and a quantity of tobacco.

(Extracted from local newspapers and compiled by Harry Boyd, posted on http://www.marionfire.us/ )