It still reins as one of the most historic fires in the history of the city of Wheeling if not the entire Upper Ohio Valley, and it took place more than a century ago near the middle of the downtown.

The blaze destroyed the former House & Hermmann Department Store, and a few other buildings close to the blaze were damaged, too.

Sean Duffy from the Ohio County Public Library conducted an extensive amount of research on the blaze, and his report on it can be viewed here.

Below are four photographs archived by James Thornton of Creative Impressions in East Wheeling.

Much of everything was frozen near the incident scene.
It evolved into a very dangerous situation for firefighters once the water they were using for the blaze froze on the ground.
There also is ice on the powerlines.
The Wheeling Artisan Center now rests near the former site of the House & Hermmann Department Store in downtown Wheeling.

Much of everything was frozen near the incident scene.
It evolved into a very dangerous situation for firefighters once the water they were using for the blaze froze on the ground.
A historic photo of a 1917 fire in a business district.
Near the corner of 14th and Main street, firefighters fought a very destructive blaze in below-freezing temperatures.

James Thornton has published several volumes of history on the city of Wheeling, and those interested in purchasing one of them can do so by contacting him at cre8m@comcast.net, or visit the Creative Impressions website.

Want to learn more local history? Try “Warwood“.

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