Celebrating Harrison's fireproof spirit
Photo courtesy of the Crane Historical Society Harrison citizens threw their possessions from their homes and watched helplessly as fire consumed most of the town July 21, 1917. The Crane House is on the left in this photo. The two-story building on the far right was called Lytle Drug Co. and was once called The Mint. It’s now the corner of the city park.
Photo courtesy of the Museum of North Idaho Much of Harrison was reduced to rubble after a fire devastated the town July 21, 1917. This shows the aftermath on July 27, 1917. The town rebuilt and is celebrating its survival during the 100 Year Fire Commemoration starting at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Courtesy photo Harrison is a thriving lakeside community 100 years after it was nearly wiped out by a fire. All are invited to celebrate the town’s survival with fire safety activities, demonstations and other events in town starting at 10 a.m. Saturday for the 100 Year Fire Commemoration.
On July 20, 1917, Harrison was a busy, bustling, up-and-coming North Idaho mill town.
The next day, 18 years to the day after it officially became a city, a devastating fire changed everything.
"It was all wooden structures," said Sherry Skarda, owner of Harrison's Osprey Inn. "Harrison was a town built of wood — the buildings, the sidewalks... the town was wiped out in 90 minutes... When the fire hit the hardware store, there were thousands of rounds of ammunition that exploded."
The fire ripped through the business district and burned down a majority of the homes. People threw their belongings into the streets and helplessly watched as their town went up in flames.
"It was hot and dry and the winds just whipped up," Skarda said. "Every time you have five major mills working, there is going to be sparks. And they were prepared for that; they had a syphoning system that came up out of the lake, and they had a pumping plant that brought water in.
"There is a rumor that the Wobblies, the union in town, may have set the fire because at this time a lot of those firefighting precautions weren't happening."
The damage was $500,000. No one died, but many people suffered burns and became homeless. The economy was decimated. The future looked bleak.
But unlike other wood-built western mining and mill towns that were deserted after fire, Harrison was not abandoned. Its citizens rebuilt, and while the town never quite returned to the glory of its mill days, it's now a popular destination thanks to the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes and has become a treasured location in North Idaho.
The town survived, and with the 100-year anniversary of that fire coming up, Harrison people have much to celebrate.
The 100 Year Fire Commemoration opens Saturday at 10 a.m. in Harrison City Park, 251 Harrison St., with kids’ activities, fire hose demonstrations, fire trucks and equipment, educational demos and more.
"It's about survival and the fortitude of the people who live in Harrison," Skarda said. "Not everybody can live in a small town that in the winter kind of goes away. This is an opportunity to celebrate the survival after the fire, but also to educate the people about the devastation of the fire and to educate children about how fire can move so quickly."
Acivities will include burning a doll house to show how fire spreads, a bucket brigade competition and information about firefighting opportunities, including the Junior Firefighter Program for youth 16-18.
"There’s something so amazingly special about Harrison that it’s a love affair," Skarda said. "It's a slice of Americana."
Harrison Chamber of Commerce President John Thiele, who owns the Harrison Creamery and Fudge Factory, also has a special place in his heart for this small lake town.
"I've been impressed with the caliber of people who make up Harrison today," he said. "There have been a lot of people who have come in with a vision, and the vision I hear most is from young couples who are looking to raise their families in an area that has the characteristics of a small town.
"Harrison has some resiliency."
Other activities happening Saturday in Harrison are a plant sale and season opening of the Crane Historical Museum, 201 Coeur d'Alene Ave., at 10 a.m.; the official debut of student fire art at the Harrison Library, 111 S. Coeur d'Alene Ave., at 1 p.m.; and a free concert in Harrison City Park from 2-5 p.m.
Info: www.harrisonidaho.org/100-yr-fire-event-schedule1.html