Oakland's Big Fire in October 1924

Oct 1924-
OAKLAND’S BIG FIRE IN OCTOBER
Oct. 6th, 1887 Witnessed a Big Configuration Doing Great Damage

Thirty-seven years ago last Monday night occurred Oakland’s first big fire. This conflagration originated in the old Chapman building built of wood which stood where Bruce Buckler’s shop now is. A lot of poker players were engaged in a game of cards and engaged in a fight knocking over a lamp which ignited the building. The fire swept west until it reached the two Coffin buildings, where Wiggington & Son now are, then jumped across the street north and burned the entire east side of the square. The loss was over $100,000, only partially covered by insurance. Among the losers of the fire was The Ledger whose plant was entirely destroyed with no insurance. The next morning Oakland was a sorry looking sight. However preparations were at once made to rebuild the burned out district and today all the old wooden buildings have been replaced with substantial brick buildings. After Mr. Tibbs rebuilt his store rooms they were again burned down. It is said that a lot of gamblers were upstairs in a room, knocked over a lamp in a fight causing the fire. As to this we do not know. It was alleged that a sky rocket set the building on fire. Later on a fire destroyed the opera house which had been rebuilt and many think that this building was set on fire to get the insurance on the stock of goods it contained. As to this all is rumor but the building was burned and all the insurance money collected. The building was replaced by another brick one and is now being occupied by the Citizen’s Bank.