As the Pagami Creek forest fire begins to be contained, it seemed appropriate to share this impressive photo from the Fire of 1908, along with a historical excerpt about the fire from the Cook County Historical Society archives.
…By early Sept. 1908, rain had not fallen since the 10th of July, some two months previous. The woods were tinder dry. At the height of the fire it extended from Grand Rapids, Minnesota to the northwest and to Thunder Bay. It spread north to Hibbing and on to the border lakes. All of the North Shore was included, and the South Shore to Washburn, Wisconsin. Later reports indicated that the shoreline suffered the most damage.
…Then Governor John A. Johnson telegraphed Captain Jacob Hector of the Booth Steamship America to proceed first to Beaver Bay and then, assumedly, to Grand Marais.
On the 8th of September the United States Gunboat, renamed the Gopher, left Duluth for Grand Marais with 50 members of the Naval militia. One report indicated that the Gopher carried 81 fire-fighters. Under orders the Gopher remained at Grand Marais until at least the 14th when it was assumed safe enough to return to Duluth.
Under orders from Gen. C.G. Andrews, state fire warden, Chief John T. Black of the local (Duluth) fire department sent 40 men to the scene of the worst forest fire above Grand Marais.
…When another ship, the Easton, arrived at Duluth it brought dire news: “The fire was within two blocks of the village of Grand Marais and in spite of the hard work of the settlers the fire demon was eating its way rapidly into the village. Everyone was out fighting
the fire… the boys from the Gopher are working like beavers but it seems the little village is doomed, and the residents are rapidly losing heart. The women are being sent to Duluth, and the men are sticking it out in the hope of a strong wind coming from the south…”
For more about Cook County’s history, visit the Cook County Historical Society museum in Grand Marais or the society’s website at www.cookcountyhistory.org/.
Do you have an old picture or a story from years gone by that you would like to share with Cook County News-Herald readers? We’d love to hear your Historical Reflections. Call (218) 387-9100; e-mail starnews@boreal.org; or stop by our office at 15 First Avenue West.
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