Finchtown Distillery
Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 December 1874, page 7
FINCHTOWN DISTILLERY BURNED LAST NIGHT
A bright light in the direction of Finchtown, before seven o'clock last night, drew the attention of many in that direction and caused an alarm to be sounded on the Covington bells. The Finchtown Distillery of G W Robson Jr. & Co. a frame and brick building, was in flamers and unchecked, the fire was devouring the main building and some of the others belonging to the premises.
The fire was first observed at about half past six o'clock in a four story detached building near the south west corner of the main building. The cause could not be discovered, as Messrs. Robson and the people of Finchtown seemed alike in the dark as to the origin of the fire. It soon engaged the whole building. Chief Hartley of the Covington Fire Department, with several of his force crossed the Licking and rendered material assistance, though little could be done in the straitened condition of the water supply.
The Newport Department did not arrive until eight o'clock, when the fire had swept across the road and was burning the buildings opposite. At nine o'clock the fire was under control, when it had destroyed the distillery and the building in which started, had gutted a building opposite and reduced the tubs near the last building to ashes.
The trestle of the railway was several times on fire, but Squire Maphet was on hand to look after the interests of the Short Line Railroad Company, and he kept the wood work safe. The fires were put out in the building at one o'clock yesterday noon, and the fire could hardly have started from such a cause. Nor is there any reason to believe that a passing locomotive had any thing to do with it.
The Finchtown Distillery was owned by Messrs. G W Robson Jun. and Wm Robson. The firm was composed of G W Robson Jun. and Henry Stagaman, the latter having the lease of Wm Robson's portion. They employed fourteen men in the building and in all twenty men will be thrown out of employment by the fire. the distillery had a capacity of 12,000 gallons per day. The loss is estimated at nearly $25,000 on building and contents.
Mr. G W Robson had $1000 insurance on stock in the Kenton and Mr. Wm Robson $5000 on building and machinery, in what companies we could not learn. No hogs were lost. The Government loses nothing by this fire as the bonded warehouse was not burned. It stood far enough from the fire to escape with only a slight scorching.
The two story brick building burned and the Finchtown Tavern, adjoining the distillery, were owned by August Dinger, of Newport, on which building he had an insurance of $4000 in the Clay of this city. The latter building lost a part of the cornice and was much injured. the former was burned through and as occupied as a dwelling and blacksmith shop. Mr. Dinger's loss is in the neighborhood of $1500. The distillery has suffered by fire for the third time.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 June 1882, page 7
NEWPORT
Messrs. G W Robson & Co have their new distillery at Finchtown about completed.