It has almost been 117 years since the Great Fire of Park City which virtually destroyed the town. Almost every building in Park City was built with wood. Many times the town had discussed the need for a fire department and firemen because of previous smaller fires. But they neglected to act.
Then disaster struck on June 19, 1898 at 4:00 a.m. A Chinese man walked out on Main Street and noticed smoke. He ran and notified a sheriff who fired his pistol three times, alerting the residents that Park City was on fire. The entire town, building by building caught on fire as residents with their bucket brigade tried to extinguish the flames. Before long their feeble efforts proved useless.
It was dynamite that saved the town. Fortunately, with all the mines there were a number of miners that understood if they blew up the fire, it would be robbed of oxygen and die. It was their only chance and that is exactly what they did.
Most of the town was in ruins and today those buildings that survived are marked with historical plaques. The town was rebuilt and this time with more stone and brick. Also, the town started a fire department and built a bell tower that exists today. In the bell tower they installed a siren and made it tall enough to hang their fire hoses.
Today on Main Street at 10:00 p.m. you will hear a siren that sounds like an air raid. It is coming from the Bell Tower right next to the post office. You can learn all about Park City by visiting our museum where the old fire station and bell tower still stands. http://parkcityhistory.org/ at 528 Main Street. There is free admission for locals on June 18th. This little bit of Park City History is brought to you by: www.fastaxi.org 435-783-8294. If you need a taxi or a ride to the airport, we can help.
Then disaster struck on June 19, 1898 at 4:00 a.m. A Chinese man walked out on Main Street and noticed smoke. He ran and notified a sheriff who fired his pistol three times, alerting the residents that Park City was on fire. The entire town, building by building caught on fire as residents with their bucket brigade tried to extinguish the flames. Before long their feeble efforts proved useless.
It was dynamite that saved the town. Fortunately, with all the mines there were a number of miners that understood if they blew up the fire, it would be robbed of oxygen and die. It was their only chance and that is exactly what they did.
Most of the town was in ruins and today those buildings that survived are marked with historical plaques. The town was rebuilt and this time with more stone and brick. Also, the town started a fire department and built a bell tower that exists today. In the bell tower they installed a siren and made it tall enough to hang their fire hoses.
Today on Main Street at 10:00 p.m. you will hear a siren that sounds like an air raid. It is coming from the Bell Tower right next to the post office. You can learn all about Park City by visiting our museum where the old fire station and bell tower still stands. http://parkcityhistory.org/ at 528 Main Street. There is free admission for locals on June 18th. This little bit of Park City History is brought to you by: www.fastaxi.org 435-783-8294. If you need a taxi or a ride to the airport, we can help.
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