On Nov. 29, 1891, a disastrous fire struck the town of Tracy. The fire was discovered at 10:45 a.m. and the alarm was given. It is written that the flames had gained considerable headway. The fire started in the basement of a store building, and when discovered, the flames had made their way to the wooden sidewalk in front and spread to the window sills of adjacent building. In the 1912 “History of Lyon County,” Arthur P. Rose wrote that had there been a water supply and apparatus to get it to the fire, the flames might have been quenched, but Tracy at that time did not have the water-works system.

Twenty-six building were destroyed: three hotels, 16 store buildings, six barns, one warehouse and the Tammany Hall Residence. Of the buildings, 13 were two stories, one was brick and two brick-veneered. The burnt district covered the central and most prominent block in the village, bounded by Front, Third and Fourth Streets. The total losses were $45,300, and the insurance carried by all who sustained losses was only $18,476. The fire was a serious blow to the people of Tracy, and it came at the worst possible time of the year. The merchants were in the midst of the best trade season they ever experienced up to that point. Also, it was the beginning of winter, which made rebuilding difficult.

During the summer before the fire, bonds to the amount of $25,000 had been voted to put in a system of waterworks and supply fire protection, but the work had not started yet. After the fire, the work began and the system was completed in the fall of 1892. An electric lighting system was also installed at the same time. A part of the burned district was rebuilt in 1892, but the recovery from the fire took a long time.

The photograph featured this week from the Lyon County Museum’s collection is a real photo postcard taken of Tracy just a few years later after the fire in 1891. This photograph was taken around 1907.

The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a nonprofit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 West Lyon Street in Marshall. The Lyon County Museum is open year-round to visitors.