The most disastrous fire in the way of damage to visit this city for a number of years occurred about one o’clock this morning when the Holland building located in the southwest corner of the square caught on fire.

The Bainbridge Jewelry store located in the corner room together with the Hauer Millinery Store and tailor establishment were the greatest losers.As yet neither Messrs. Bainbridge or Mr. Hauer can put any definite or reliable estimate on their losses.

The Central Illinois Public Service Company with offices just east of that room occupied by Bainbridge and Hauer report that they are not hurt any in the way of loss. While their rooms were wet from the fire department work and will have to be repapered and otherwise overhauled the company reports they will not otherwise suffer from the fire.

The origin of the fire is not yet definitely known. No goods are reported missing and it is thought that burglary and larceny were the motive of the crime. The back stairway leading from the rear porch is where the fire started and it is probable that some boys or tramp might have been smoking in the apartments above which are not occupied and thereby started the fire.

The central location of the building is such that had the fire not been brought under control, the entire block might have been destroyed. At an early hour this morning the managers of the firms damaged were busy at work with a force of extra help cleaning up the debris in their places of business and will be open by tomorrow for the accommodation of their trade. The damage in the building is such that it will require considerable work and an outlay of quite an amount of money to repair it.

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