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MI, ALPENA - Moench Tannery Fire July 11, 1911, mailed July 23rd (original SOLD) R00398

MI, ALPENA - Moench Tannery Fire July 11, 1911, mailed July 23rd (original SOLD) R00398

$40.00

Michigan real photo postcard

  • mailed from Alpena on July 23rd, 1911 - just a few days after the HUGE DISASTER that took place July 11, 1911!!  Postcard is titled:  Moench Tannery Fire July 11, 1911.  Note gives a first hand report that stated:  Reached Au Sable yesterday.  Everything burned.  Received your letter ok.  We take? the boot here (or we take the boat here)??, will write you later.  Had a great trip and caught some good trout.
  • 1888 Henry Moench was admitted as partner at which point became C Moench & Son 5 years later - firm erected large sole leather tannery - this info was with the card.
  • Did recently find an article from rootsweb titled:  A BELCHING HELL OF FLAME (FROM AN OLD NEWSPAPER CLIPPING), which I will include with the postcard.   There was reference to the tannery which read:  The City of Alpena was menaced for a time Tuesday afternoon and grave fears for its safety were entertained.  So far as ascertained it's loss reaches $265,000.  The Moench tannery was the heaviest loser, as in buildings and tan bark it totaled at $250,000.  The News believes the origin of the fire was caused by boys in swimming and using matches to light cigarettes while sitting on logs at the river bank.   Words fail to express the horrors and suffering of the people of Au Sable and Oscoda, for all that is left of Au Sable is a school house and 4 dwelling, while at Oscoda every business house is gone and only 60 dwellings are left, while the loss of life is reported this morning at 3, being Sam Rosenthal, brother in law of our Postmaster I J Barnett, William Batt and a peddler whose name we failed to learn.

Please note that the majority of the cards are over 50 years old and as such, are sold AS IS. Tears will be noted but it would be too timely to note each fault on every card. If condition is important to you - contact us with our number in the title & what it is that you would like to know or what it is that you would like pictured more closely.

  • Because of the age of the cards - they are noted as being USED - no matter if they are written on or not.

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