Franklin County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 353, Ottawa, Kansas 66067
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[northeast corner 4th & Walnut streets/ site of the present old city hall]

CENTENNIAL BURNED

One of Ottawa's Hotels  Goes Up in Smoke.

Practically A Total Loss.

The Fire Originated in the Kitchen and Spread Rapidly -

Impossible to Save the Building -

Most of the Furniture Destroyed - Hotel May be Rebuilt.

["Ottawa Herald," 14 Feb 1901]

 The blackened and charred walls of the Centennial hotel, the only $2 per day hotel Ottawa had stand as a reminder of what the building has been. The hotel was almost completely destroyed by fire early this morning. Nothing but the shell of the building remains, each room on both floors being visited by the flames which left destruction in their wake. As for rebuilding, the building is worthless. The whole upper story is destroyed and the lower story is so badly damaged it can not be utilized except as lumber.

The fire originated in the kitchen. "Tim" Jackson, the boy who builds fires, started his fire this morning, as usual, about 5:15 o'clock. He built a fire in the range which sits next to the kitchen wall. Mr. Jackson was attending to his other duties when he suddenly noticed that the wall directly behind the range was afire. IN an instant the fire spread to the whole wall which was dry as tinder. Seeing he could do nothing to prevent a fire he rushed across the street to the fire department headquarters and turned in the alarm. The department responded quickly but the fire had worked up tot he loft of the kitchen and was spreading rapidly. The building was covered with a tin roof and the loft was open over the whole building. The fire couldn't break through the roof so it spread. This attic was, of course, dry as powder and it only required a very short space of time for the fire to cover the whole building. The firemen soon had five streams playing on the fire, but nothing could save the building from being gutted.

There were several guests in the building aside from the regular roomers and family; all were notified that the building was on fire and they hastily got their effects together and escaped, but not before their rooms were filled with smoke. In their haste some of the guests left a few articles of more or less value in their rooms. One traveling man came down stairs without his shoes and another, R. E. Zimmerman, who travels for Lowney's candles, reported that he lost $41 in money and a good dresscoat. Mr. Zimmerman left a call for the 5 o'clock train, but upon being awakened gave orders to call him later, that he would not leave until 8:40. Mr. Zimmerman states that he left his money, expense book and some other things on the dresser in his room, and in his haste to get out when notified of the fire, he forgot them and his coat. After all danger was over he went back to his room and found fragments of his coat, but the money was not found.

It was evident, almost from the first, that the building was doomed, and the citizens lent a hand in carrying out the furniture. Most all the furniture, including the piano, from the lower floor was carried out, much of it damaged in the excitement. The fire had spread to the upper apartments so rapidly that it was impossible to save any of the furniture there. It was all damaged, much of it totally destroyed. In some of the rooms the beds, bedding and other furniture were almost burned to ashes and in others only badly scorched.

The loss to the building is estimated to be about $7,000. There was insurance on the building to the amount of $4,000, one-half with C. M. Porter, and one-half with Miller & Oldroyd. The latter also had $1,000 on the furniture. No damage resulted to any of the surrounding buildings.

The hotel was owned and operated by Mrs. S. Piersol who has been continuously managing it since it was opened. There was encumbrance on the property approximating $7,000, the Jarvis-Conklin Loan company and C. W. Goodin being the creditors.

Mrs. Piersol stated to a Herald representative this morning that she would rebuild the hotel at once, erecting a structure with all the modern improvements.

The Centennial hotel, as its name indicates, was started in Ottawa in 1876. Mr. And Mrs. Silas Piersol started it that year in the store room now occupied by J. D. Chamberlain. IN 1879 the building which was burned this morning was built for a private residence and in 1882 it was opened as a hotel. Since that time several additions have been made.