ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — Long before Prohibition was enacted nationwide, the consumption of alcohol and the proliferation of saloons were contentious issues in Douglas County.
Eventually, somebody took steps to rid Alexandria of saloons once and for all — by burning them.
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The first of these fires was set on March 28, 1901, when what was known as "the old saloon corner" on Main Street and Sixth Avenue in Alexandria was "gutted" by fire. An adjoining lunch room was totally destroyed, as well.
According to contemporary accounts, at about 3:30 a.m., a Mrs. Gauthier noticed a light reflected on the buildings across the street, and went outside to see flames issuing from the restaurant.
It was determined that the fire had been burning for at least an hour before the fire department could begin dousing it with water.
While the building was a loss, the stock of liquor was nearly all saved, as were the personal effects of John and Joseph Swenson, who roomed upstairs. However, by the time the Swensons became aware of the fire, they could not escape by the stairs and had to get out through the windows.
The Alexandria Citizen reported: "The fire is supposed to have started in a little sheet iron covered lean-to back of the restaurant, but the origin of the fire is unknown. The main part of the building is made of heavy 2-inch oak plank on end and it burned slowly."
The Citizen also reported that people who did not hear the alarm thought Carrie Nation — famed for busting up saloons with a hatchet — had been in town.
The Alexandria Post News was less than charitable in its reporting of the event, with the main headline reading, "GOOD RED LIQUOR WAS SPILLED."
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"There was (an) abundance of fire when the fire companies turned out but good work was done, almost too good, as under the ordinance it can be rebuilt if not damaged over 50 percent of its value," the Post News reported.
By coincidence, a story appeared that same day in the St. Paul Globe which read that a reform wave had hit Alexandria.
The article read that a petition was being circulated to pass the following ordinance:
"To define the word minor, as pertains to billiard halls as a person under twenty-one years of age, the same as in the saloon ordinance; instead of eighteen years as the ordinance is now worded.
"To refuse to license billiard halls to be located in a basement or on any floor above the first floor of any building in the village.
"To compel saloons to close at 10 o'clock in the evening, instead of 11, as it now is.
"To fix liquor (licenses) at $1,000 for each saloon to take effect one year hence."
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The liquor license fee was set at $500 at that time.
The next fire occurred in May of that year, when the ice house adjoining the saloon occupied by John Miller on Sixth Avenue was burned.
While the local papers did not report on this fire, the same could not be said of the next one, which occurred a few days later in the Aberle building on 515 Main Street, which was occupied by Clemens Schneiderhan.
In less than an hour, the building was a total loss.
Despite this fact, the Citizen called it a "lucky fire," in that there was very little wind and it was discovered in time to save the adjoining property.
"The origin of the fire is a mystery, but it is generally believed that it was the work of an incendiary, as barrel staves and sticks were found under an outside back stairs soaked with kerosene," the Citizen reported.
Yet another fire was started that August, this time at the rear of the Sundblad building on the corner of Main Street and Fifth Avenue.
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This saloon was also occupied by Schneiderhan, who had set up business there after his previous saloon was burned.
The Citizen reported that this was the sixth attempt that had been made that year, although it appears that not all of them were reported on by the local papers.
Fortunately, this time there was very little damage done to the saloon.
According to the Citizen, "The incendiary left no doubt about the building being set on fire, as a tin pail filled with paper and rags and soaked with kerosene was found between the building and a wood pile. The fire had been set about the time the saloon closed."
A grim joke was placed beneath this story in the paper. An advertisement: "Smoke Lady of the Lakes if you want a good five-cent cigar."
While the papers seemed sympathetic to what was happening, they also could not help but pass judgment in their reporting on the matter.
The Alexandria Post News reported: "Why they have twice picked Mr. Schneiderhan, who is a law abiding, kindly man, apparently without an enemy in the world, is a mystery. Also had he been burned out, Mr. Johnson next door would have lost his store, home and all he has in the world. Saloons may be evils, most of us think they are, but they are a blessing compared to the 'fire bug.' "
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At this point, the community and residents decided something had to be done.
First, the village council offered a reward of $200 for the capture and conviction of any person or persons guilty of arson committed in the village. An additional $100 was offered by the citizens of Alexandria.
When adjusted for inflation, that $300 amounts to more than $11,000.
After the reward was offered, the fires stopped — at least, no more were reported.
Whoever set the fires was never apprehended.
The Trust Project
