Wisconsin Chair Company Fire, The - Wisconsin Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

One of the largest manufacturers of chairs in the United States, the Wisconsin Chair Company of Port Washington was founded by Fred A. Dennett and John M. Bostwick in 1888. After acquiring the important "MacLean Swing Rocker" patent in 1891, the Chair Company grew rapidly and became Port Washington's biggest employer. The factory complex included two square blocks of Port Washington's lakefront. Unfortunately, this success was interrupted when a catastrophic fire broke out in the factory's veneering department on the night of February 19, 1899. The fire spread quickly despite the attempts of the Port Washington Fire Department. Although firefighters from Milwaukee and Sheboygan were called to assist, the Chair Company and six square blocks of homes and business were completely destroyed before the fire was under control. One firefighter lost his life, 28 families were left homeless and 800 people were without jobs. The damage was estimated to be $400,000, but because of community's herculean efforts, the Wisconsin Chair Company was able to rebuild and remained a premier industry until 1954.

County: Ozaukee Location: Other MarkerID: 414

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Date Logged Log User Rating   09/26/2021 Noah's Peeps visited it 09/08/2021 OcrazyS visited it 04/24/2021 TeamAlexAbby visited it 04/24/2021 DBJCACHER visited it 08/19/2018 ted28285 visited it 08/19/2018 r.e.s.t.seekers visited it 06/05/2018 tugies visited it 05/28/2018 2 Sonians visited it 02/26/2018 BWJM visited it 10/12/2017 Rattrak visited it 03/20/2016 bbqbomber visited it 08/07/2015 lostcheq visited it 08/07/2015 geckl69 visited it 01/18/2014 SpeedCity visited it 08/02/2012 peach107 visited it 07/16/2010 Jerode visited it

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