Grayson County TXGenWeb

Exposition Hall
Denison, Texas

Sunday Gazetteer
14 August 1893

Donna Hunt, "Up, Up and Away Over Denison," Herald Democrat, August 26, 2009.
Donna was quoting from article in Denison Herald, February 25, 1939.

Sunday Gazetteer
August 20, 1893
Sunday afternoon and evening (Sunday, August 14, 1893) the exposition hall and grounds were visited by vast throngs of people. Those who are competent to judge state that the attendance was never greater. Prof. LeRoy made a balloon ascension in the afternoon, and at night a tight wire performance was given. The last train left the grounds at 11:30 p.m. and the watchman states that so far as he knew no person was left. He made the rounds of the grounds and building about 12 o'clock. All lights were turned out and he and his family retired. The watchman's wife thought that she saw some one enter the building after all the lights had been turned out, and so stated to her husband. Another round of the building was made, but no one was seen nor was a sound of any kind heard. The watchman and his family retired and soon all were asleep. The watchman at the cotton mill building saw a bright light in the direction of the exposition just before one o'clock, and hastening down to the station, saw that the large hall was on fire. The exposition watchman was awakened, but the flames had made too great a progress to be controlled by the means at hand, and in a few minutes the entire building was a burning mass.

The hall was erected in 1889 by the Denison Land and Investment Company. It was finely finished and cost $20,000. In the interior were the contents of the Texas car exhibit, shown some time ago through the south, north and east. The magnificent gate, which was exhibited at the New Orleans exposition was burned.

The building and a portion of the contents were insured for $10,000 in the Home insurance company of New York. Prof. LeRoy lost his trunk and balloon; a total loss of about $75. The total loss on the building and contents is fully $20,000.

The general theory is that the fire was the work of an incendiary, as it is extremely improbable that it could have had any other origin. Sunday afternoon some person or persons spiked down the switch near the motor round-house, but owing to the discovery of the work by some of the motor-line people before the arrival of the train an accident was averted. On the same evening as many as eight or ten railway torpedoes were placed along the track near the exposition hall. These matters, taken with the fact that a number of tough boys have been giving the company no little trouble of late by stealing rides and jumping on and off trains while in motion, it is easy to come to the conclusion that one of some of these lads did the burning.

Sunday Gazetteer
August 20, 1893

SUNDAY NIGHT'S FIRE
Between 11 and 12 o'clock Sunday night the barn and stable of Mr. C.E. Parish, corner of Nelson street and Crockett avenue, caught fire, and within thirty minutes nothing remained but a heap of coals and ashes. The house contained a small quantity of feed and rubbish, and was insured for $350. It was valued at $500. How the fire originated no one seems to know. Mr. Parish states that he and his family retired between 10 and 11 o'clock, and about 11:30 he was awakened by the roar of the flames, the barn being not over twenty feet from the dwelling house. The city fire department made a splendid run, but owing to the distance from the fire hall, the barn was practically destroyed when the first stream of water was turned on.
While the firemen were reeling up the hose a second alarm was sounded. A bright light was seen to the southwest, and the city fire department were soon en route to the second fire. On reaching Texas street it was apparent that the exposition hall was on fire, but as there were no hydrants within reach of the building it was useless to go further, and the carts and wagons were returned to the city hall.