Twice Told Tuesday - Fire ! Fire ! Fire!

Twice Told Tuesday features a photography related article reprinted from old photography books, magazines, and newspapers.

I attended a reading this weekend where someone asked a question about photographers, their studios, and fire. So today, let's court a little disaster and take a look at fire and its damage in the photographic world of 1914.

Abel's Photographic Weekly
1914

Hutchinson, Kans. Jan. 15. $53,000 fire includes photograph gallery in paths of destruction.

$53,000.00 in 1914 had about the same buying power as $1,144,529.70 in 2010.

Bridgeport, Conn., Jan. 19. Studio of Henry A. Pearlen damaged to extent of $150.00. Fire started by overheated stovepipe.

$150.00 in 1914 had about the same buying power as $3,239.24 in 2010.

Pittsfield, Mass., Jan. 19. Fire starting in studio of F. E. Chittenden burns for three hours, with $40,000 damage to adjoining property. Mr. Chittenden's loss, $10,000, partly covered by insurance.

$40,000.00 in 1914 had about the same buying power as $863,796.00 in 2010.

$10,000.00 in 1914 had about the same buying power as $215,949.00 in 2010.

Charlestown, Mass., Jan. 17. $600.00 damage done to European Photo-Studio, Leon & Garbis, props.

$600.00 in 1914 had about the same buying power as $12,956.94 in 2010.

Madison, Wis., Jan. 13. Curtiss Photograph Studio partially destroyed in fire caused by defective furnace in bank building next door.

Gary Firefighters

1914

Sources:

Anonymous. "Fire! Fire! Fire!." Abel's Photographic Weekly, 1914.

Inflation Calculator

Bortz Photo Co. Gary's Fire fighters, 1914. Photographic Print. Digital. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 US. Accessed February 2010.