The photograph featured this week from the museum’s collection was taken prior to 1902 in Marshall. On Sept. 24-25, 1902, a fire completely destroyed the three-story Baldwin building on Main Street. The Baldwin building stood on the location of where the building housing Noble Woman and Investors Choice is located.

The Baldwin building was built in 1895. The building was occupied by the Baldwin & Loveridge’s Department Store, V.B. Seward’s law offices, Odd Fellows Hall, and the third floor was dedicated to the Masonic Lodge. The small building on the right was crushed by the falling wall. This building was owned by William Dibble and was occupied by Blakeslee’s Meat Market. The Case building on the left side of the building narrowly escaped destruction. The Case building (where Columbia Import is located today on the corner of Third and Main Streets) was occupied at the time by the post office, Lyon County Reporter office, the public library, and offices.

The following account is from the Sept. 26, 1902 edition of the News-Messenger of Lyon County: “The Baldwin three story, double store building, the finest single business building in the city, together with its two story annex on Third Street, and everything contained in the big building was reduced to ashes and crumbling walls by the most disastrous fire which has ever occurred in the city last Wednesday night. The city suffers not only the loss of its most attractive business building, but as well the loss of its largest retail establishment, the Baldwin & Loveridge department store, and the destruction of the homes of its leading fraternities, the Masonic lodge, Knights Templar commandery, and of the Odd Fellows. The destruction was complete, including Mayor Seward’s law offices, and Blakeslee’s market adjoining. The loss and damage approximates $100,000, and the insurance covers about half that amount.”

In the following week’s newspaper, it was reported that within 48 hours after the fire, the Baldwin & Loveridge firm were in business again. They purchased H.M. Langland’s department stock at a lumped price and without interrupting the Saturday business, the firm and all their employees started at work again.

The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a non-profit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 W Lyon St in Marshall. The museum is open! For hours and more information, visit our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org, call: 507-537-6580, email: director@lyoncomuseum.org, or check our Facebook page.