Friday, August 7

Local History

Historic Reflection: 1910 – Oxenger Millinery Fire

By Newspaper StaffAugust 7, 2026No Comments2 Mins Read

Colorized July 21, 1910 photograph of the Oxenger millinery fire on the northeast corner of High and Lynn streets in Bryan, Ohio — FIRE … At approximately 9 a.m. on July 21, 1910, Martha Oxenger and an assistant were working in the rear of her millinery store on the northeast corner of High and Lynn streets in Bryan when they smelled smoke. Oxenger discovered flames under a stairway leading to the second floor offices of Dr. Smeltz and dentist J.B. Snyder. The Bryan Democrat newspaper reported “Two lines of hose were used by the fire department, and the fire was a difficult one to fight for a time. They were able to confine the flames to the room occupied by Miss Oxenger, and the only damage to the offices on the second floor will be from smoke.” Oxenger’s millinery stock was a total loss, and the fire, believed to be the result of spontaneous combustion, also caused $1,000 of structural damages. The small sign on the utility pole was placed by the Ladies Civic Improvement League to discourage tobacco users and reads: “$5.00 fine for spitting on the sidewalks.” Many of the signs were torn down soon after they were posted. This colorized July 21, 1910 vintage image of the Oxenger millinery fire is from the Williams County Public Library Huffman Photographic Archives. Do you have a Williams County Historic photo you would like to share? Email: publisher@thevillagereporter.com.

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