An article appearing in “The Advocate” on Thursday, August 12, 1976, tells the story of when a 1906 fire destroyed the Idaho Enterprise. 

Entitled “Enterprise late when destroyed in 1906 fire with Opera House”, the interesting story is reprinted here: 

“Saturday, August 11, 1906 – A fire which started on the inside of the opera house about 2 o’clock Tuesday morning destroyed that building and also the Idaho Enterprise printing office, located 60 feet south of the former. 

“The first person to discover the fire was Thomas Parry, who was doing the duty of night watchman, and the alarm was at once sounded and citizens began to congregate in front of the burning building, which was a frame 3-story structure, that burned so rapidly as to be almost consumed in 30 minutes. 

“The printing office took fire before those on the ground could secure buckets and get to work, so all efforts were concentrated on the buildings across the street, which are only from 62 to 75 feet from the site of the burning buildings, and also the old Peck house on the north, that was about ready to burst forth in flames, when men covered it with wet quilts and blankets and saved it from any damage except a few broken windows. 

“Fortune seemed to favor the town, as the night was clear and still, and as the flames shot skyward they seemed not to yield to the slightest breeze, and there was a good stream of water close at hand which enabled those on the ground to keep the other buildings that were subject to the great heat covered with water, and thus prevented the flames from spreading to these adjacent buildings, which would have endangered the entire business section of the town. 

“Everyone present was equipped with a bucket and worked with all diligence until the fire spent its force, and there was no longer any danger from the intense heat. 

“The streets were crowded with men and women from all portions of the town, and it was the most exciting scene ever witnessed in our town. 

“S.D. Davis and John Fredrickson had law and abstract offices on the second story, all the contents of which were destroyed. On the upper floor the Woodsmen Lodge had quarters, having recently added to the equipment a new organ and handsome desk. These, with all other paraphernalia, burned with the building. 

“Some say the fire started under the stage, but Mr. Parry, who was the first one on the scene, says it started directly in front of the stage in some bunting that had been used to decorate with the previous evening when a concert was given in the hall. One can only guess as to the origin of the fire, as there are several witnesses to the fact that no light was left burning. 

“The only thing saved from the opera house was the piano belonging thereto. Mr. Jonasson, representing the Thatcher Music Co. had placed a new piano in the house Monday evening to be used in the concert, and this was destroyed. Clyde Hanson managed to rescue from the printing office his books, two stands, some cases and type, all of comparatively small value. 

“At one time it seemed as though it would be impossible to prevent the buildings across the street from becoming ignited, and all animals and vehicles were removed from the feed stable, and bedding and furniture was carried out into the street from Grandma Peck’s residence. 

“Drummers who had trunks in the sample room of the Peck Hotel were tugging them out on the street, and there was talk of sending to Ogden for a fire engine in anticipation of the great danger to every business house in town. But by the unceasing efforts of the crowd, both men and women, the flames were confined to the two buildings, and the morning dawned upon a scene of ruins that were so small in comparison to what might have been that everyone felt grateful for so fortunate an escape. 

“The original cost of the opera house building was $6,500 and we estimate the loss for the two buildings and their contents at fully $6,000. The total insurance on both was $4,500.