Bodie in Ruins- 29 July 1892

July 29, 1892—- BODIE IN RUNS…..

San Francisco Call, Volume 72, 29 July 1892

BRIDGEPORT, July 28.- The business portion of the town of Bodie, was almost totally destroyed by fire on Tuesday night.

The fire started in a “Defective Flue” in the Bakery of Mrs. J. Perry. For some “reason unknown” the Fire Department was unable to get any water playing on the flames.

Nothing was saved from the building which caught, and the loss in all amounts to about $75,000, covered by $10,000 Insurance.

Fire of 1932- destroyed the town- The IOOF Hall and the brick DeChambeau Hotel were spared.

~~~The Mining town population had dwindled to 1,591 residence listed in the 1890 Federal Census Report. Two years later, the 1892 fire destroyed the “business section of town-” which never recovered or rebuilt.

~~~The 1930 Federal Census lists the population as 228 residence. Two years later 1the 1932 destroyed 40 buildings including the BANK OF BODIE, the Post-Office, the Sawdust Saloon, the United States Hotel and the Occidental Hotel.