Crystal Theatre

kencmcintyre on February 23, 2006 at 5:16 pm

Fire in 1921:

The next bout with fire in the community was not nearly as costly. However, it claimed a sizable amount of merchandise Feb. 16, 1913.

About $8,000 in merchandise and fixtures burned at Rolfe’s Drug store after flames shot out of a furnace in the rear of the store about 10 a.m. The loss was not total.

A 2:30 a.m. discovery of smoke brought firemen to the R. L. Brown Hardware Store March 1, 1916. However, before the fire fighters could quell the blaze $12,000 in stock and the building were gone. Tile structure was one of the early ones in Flandreau and was a landmark. The Bidne-Brown Building in the main business district stands on the site now.

Another early morning blaze engulfed tile Bland Meat Market May 22, 1921. Defective wiring was listed as the probable cause for $9,000 in damage beginning about 3:30 a.m.

The interior furnishings and equipment at the Crystal Theatre received damage to the tune of $6,000 in Nov. No cause was ever established for the fire, which was noticed about 6 O'clock in the evening but it was believed to have been the result of a furnace.