The Manassas Fire of 1905
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Untitled Document
THE MANASSAS FIRE: Tuesday, Dec. 5, 1905 | |
For further description, mouse over the circled numbers above each building. The Manassas fire of 1905 destroyed about 35 buildings, including what was then known as The Journal Messenger, and caused between $60,000 and $100,000 in losses. This photo shows the surviving buildings on the north side of Center Street and the east side of Main Street. The steeple in the background between buildings two and three was at a Presbyterian Church that still stands today, but the steeple is no longer there. the slideshow |
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Old Town Manassas barely resembles the small,
burgeoning business district that it was a century ago, when an early morning fire destroyed a block and half of the businesses bordered by Main, Center and Battle streets – half of the town’s business section. Monday marks the 100th anniversary of the fire that razed about 35 homes and businesses and caused at least $60,000 worth of damage. Some of the businesses lost, such as The Manassas Journal, the post office and the millinery store, were integral to the community, said Melinda Herzog, director of historic resources for the Manassas Museum System. Following the devastating fire, new buildings were no longer made of wood – Town Council required buildings to be built of brick, stone or concrete. |
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Manassas fire | “A pitiable spectacle” impressions | For better, for worse the slideshow |
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