Fire destroyed the four story Widmann Hotel and two other buildings on April 14, 1950. The fire, believed to have originated in the Moose Club Rooms, which occupied the northeast corner of the first floor, was discovered at about 7:55 a.m. by Mrs. Robert Miller, a maid at the hotel. An explosion about noon, believed to be ammonia in the hotel’s refrigeration plant, injured two firemen and several spectators. Most of the guests were reported to have formed a human chain by joining hands and were lead through the smoke to safety. Sixty-two guests were evacuated from the hotel. A total of 11 businesses were destroyed in the fire. The blaze jumped across First Avenue north from the Widmann and destroyed Kress Drug, which also contained apartments on the second and third floor. The drug store building also housed Waters Paint and Glass and Nobis Barber Shop was in the basement. Pickwick Bar just south of the Widmann was also gutted. Assisted by firemen from 24 neighboring towns, the fire department battled a hopeless fight against the blaze. (Photo courtesy of the Mitchell Area Historical Society)
Read the article: BACK IN TIME: Widmann Hotel fire
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