Up in Flames
In the early days of Alpena, Michigan, the booming lumber industry brought both prosperity and danger. The city’s rapid growth, wooden structures, and proximity to sawdust-laden mills made it a tinderbox waiting for a spark. That spark came on July 12, 1872, when a catastrophic fire consumed the heart of Alpena, leaving destruction and resilience in its wake.
Fire of 1871
Just over a year earlier, Alpena had officially incorporated as a city on March 29, 1871. Within weeks, fire struck the business district on the north shore of the Thunder Bay River, prompting the formation of the Alpena Fire Department and the acquisition of a new water-pumping fire truck named Sog-on-e-qua-do in May 1871. That first fire was a warning—but the blaze in 1872 would be a defining moment.
Fire of 1872
The 1872 fire started at the Sherman House on 2nd Avenue and quickly spread in multiple directions. When the smoke finally cleared, 15 acres of the city had been laid to waste. Seventy-five buildings were destroyed, including homes, businesses, and even the office of the Alpena Weekly Argus, the predecessor of today’s Alpena News. Tragically, four lives were lost, and two others were badly burned.
Firefighting in those days relied on bell alerts and assembling manpower and equipment on the fly. The delay in response and the sheer combustibility of the city’s wooden structures allowed the fire to spread at an uncontrollable pace. While early reports blamed the fire on stored whiskey igniting, no conclusive cause was ever determined.
Northern Michigan Resilience
The aftermath of the fire could have broken a lesser community. But Alpena’s residents responded with grit and determination. Brick buildings rose from the ashes, fire codes were strengthened, and the fire department expanded. The Weekly Argus was up and printing again within 45 days—an act of defiance and recovery.
Fire of 1888
Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be the last major fire to sweep the city. On July 11, 1888, another blaze tore through Alpena’s Third Ward, destroying 200 buildings and leaving 1,500 people homeless. Yet despite its size, that fire claimed only one life and spared the business district.
The 1872 fire stands as a turning point in Alpena’s history—a sobering lesson in the dangers of unchecked growth and the importance of fire preparedness. But it also revealed something more enduring: the strength of a community unwilling to be defeated.
Learn more about the rich history of the Northeast Lower Peninsula.
