On Sunday February 28, 1875, around 4 am, a fire broke out in downtown Powhatan that destroyed much of the commercial district. Various newspaper accounts speculated that the fire was caused by "an incendiary," though none elaborate on what that is or if it was caused by an arsonist. Contemporary papers also disagreed on how much property had been destroyed, but it was estimated to have cost around $22,000-$30,0001.
Buildings destroyed include:2
- Dr. J.W Coffman's hotel
- Martin & Raney's Drug Store
- post office
- Sloan & Co.'s dry good store
- H.T. Wickersham's tin shop
- Mack & Martin's dry goods store
- Presbyterian chapel
- Masonic Hall
- Mount's Warehouse
- 5 or 6 buildings "occupied by colored people"
The Masonic Hall, tin shop and Presbyterian chapel were all a part of the same building. The fire spread to the "next adjoining and corner room of the block" which held Mack & Martin's store. Next, the hotel burned which also included a room on the lower floor occupied by Martin & Ramsey, druggists. They also kept the post office. The heat then ignited a building across the street to the west belonging to C. Sloan and Co. J.B. Judkin's livery stable was listed as about a hundred feet south of the fire, and within a few few feet of the store of B.F. Mathews. 3
Source:
Arkansas Gazette, 3-2-1875 Powhatan in flames.pdf
Memphis Daily Appeal, 3-2-1875
Powhatan SP archive
1. Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas) · 14 Mar 1875, Sun Powhatan fire worth 30 grand.pdf
2. Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas) · Tue, Mar 2, 1875 · Page 4 powhatan fire 1875.pdf
3. Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas) · Wed, Mar 3, 1875 · Page 1 powhatan fire 1875 (2).pdf
