On this day in 1900 – fire breaks out on Ballard Ave. from errant fireworks

On this day 113 years ago, a fire broke out on Ballard Ave after some unruly kids lit off 4th of July fireworks. Local historian and writer Luci Baker Johnson of Ballard sent us this PDF of an old Seattle Daily Times article that reports on the fire.

The article reads as follows:

“Fire broke out at about 1:30 this morning in the store building of Jim Brozett on the corner of Ballard and Second avenues. Some boys were shooting firecrackers outside, one of which entered the store and set fire to the fixtures. The stock of stationary and cigars were destroyed before the fire department could reach the scene and the whole buiding was in flames. The fixtures of the Motor Bar Saloon which was in the next room were completely destroyed. The loss will amount to about $4,000. There was insurance on the building and stock to the amount of $200.”

Also in that day’s paper is a story of a bartender struck and killed by a streetcar after retrieving a dropped umbrella in Madison Park.

Thanks, Luci, for the tip!