Downtown fires a rural plague

I’m getting to wonder, what in the world is going on with downtown squares in Nebraska small towns? I know history is filled with accounts of devastating fires in the core of rural communities, even more so in bygone days of all-wood construction — even to include sidewalks — and only bucket brigades to mount in defense.
Unfortunately the modern era began here in York. Everyone knows how we lost nearly the entire south side of our downtown square in mind-numbing fashion. Ironically, months later I stumbled into a book of historical York photos at a flea market in Overton. On one of its pages I was stunned to see what looked like an image of our fire’s aftermath. Amazingly, this fire took out the exact same part of the block on Nov. 21, 1877. Please look at the accompanying photo, taken from north and east of Fifth and Grant. Yes, the same wall you see exposed in 1877 came out into the light again on Oct. 20, 2006.
Hastings checked in next, as best I recall, with a downtown towering inferno. Then it was Broken Bow’s turn. I thought it a bit spooky that Bow also lost the south side of the square, just like York. Only all their buildings went up in smoke.
Then it was Aurora residents who could only stand dumbfounded in silence and watch one of the most unique and historic buildings in their town, the castle-like Fidelity Building, be consumed by fire. I was there at the moment both corners gave way. There was little dignity in tumbling to the street in ruins for a classy old girl like this one.
Thankfully, at least Aurora didn’t lose a whole block. The help of York’s firemen and two other aerial trucks from Grand Island and Hastings couldn’t save the Fidelity, but they did keep the roaring beast from feeding on adjacent structures.
York’s mess is cleaned up, though it took a long, painful process. I judge prospects for significant future development of the site to be dim. Now somebody prove me wrong. Please!
Broken Bow had its debris cleared and its ground reclaimed in remarkably short order. A local cattle feeder donated a canyon for the rubble and the state’s enviros signed off on the plan. Lickety-split the whole mess was gone. Already redevelopment has resulted in one spanking new building on the west end of Broken Bow’s burned out block. Congratulations to the community for what it has accomplished together.
Will Aurora do likewise? Hard to tell. For one thing, Aurora lost just one building. It was a nationally registered historic place to be sure, but the fact is it’s a single building. I hope that makes Aurora’s task less daunting than ours.
Don’t bet against Aurora finding an inventive way to turn this sad story into a happy one ... or at least happier.
What will Aurora do? It’s way too soon to know, but it sure will be fun to watch and find out.
Contact — stephen.moseley@yorknewstimes.com