Firestorm at Peshtigo: A Town, Its People, and the Deadliest Fire in American History | 
pick“Faster than it takes to write these words” was a phrase often used by survivors to describe the speed of this powerful fire. Horrific.
October 8, 1871 was not only the date of the Great Chicago Fire, but of the lesser known and far deadlier firestorm that swept through the lumber town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin. Of 2000 known residents, 1800 perished (and hundreds more in surrounding areas). Interesting and heartbreaking history.
One of my favorite parts of this book so far are the newspaper ads from the local businesses at the end of each chapter. I‘m guessing they may have met their end in the path of this 1871 firestorm. We‘ll see.
I wonder what those “Fancy Articles” might have been? Fashion items like gloves &/or hats?
“The working day began before dawn in the gloom in the forest surrounding Peshtigo.”
#FirstLineFridays
My find from a little used bookstore I visited this past weekend. I remember feeling very upset after learning about this tragedy in elementary school (4th or 5th grade, in Wisconsin). Interested in learning more.
