The following is an excerpt from “Remembering Solon: a community and family history of Solon Township area, compiled by Carol Drzewiecki.
Electric pumps out of order, so crowd watched flames burn out. Loss $50,000.
Fire originating somewhere near the furnace, destroyed the two story brick building which housed the State Bank of Cedar and the general store of Sbonek and Skeba, at 5:30 this morning, with a loss estimated at $50,000.
When discovered the fire was making fast headway and the residents of the village, as well as many who drove in from the surrounding country to be of assistance, were helpless because of a lack of water and the fierceness of the flames. The electric pumps, which furnished the closest water supply, were out of order, so the crowds were forced to stand idly by and watch the building burn.
The big stock of Sbonek and Skeba was totally destroyed as were all the bank fixtures. The fire was still smoldering this morning, and it is still too hot to test the bank vaults. E. Billman, head of the bank, says that the vaults are fireproof and that little chance exists that the contents, including the books and securities, are damaged.
The building was a two-story tile structure with the store and the bank on the groundfloor and an excellent dance hall on the second. It was built several years ago and was recognized as one of the best buildings in Leelanau County. It will be rebuilt as soon as the debris can be cleared away and the insurance adjusted.
An investigation will be made to determine the cause of the fire. It is generally agreed that it started near the furnace probably from a defective pipe or from a spark thrown out by the heating plant.
Record Eagle, March 2, 1926
••• Big fire at Cedar The building that housed Sbonek’s General Store and State Bank at Cedar early Tuesday morning, March 2.
The fire was discovered about 6 o’clock but it had gained such a start in the basement that it was impossible to save anything from the store. Some furniture and papers were however, saved from the bank.
Four residences across the street were in danger also. The front windows of Sbonek’s were cracked by the intense heat. Snow on the roofs kept the flying cinders and sparks from starting more fires.
The cause of the fire is not known but it is thought that it may have been started from the furnace.
Total loss has not been ascertained but the building being modern in every respect, the loss is undoubtedly very high.
Leelanau Enterprise, March 4, 1926
••• Cedar Saloon burned The saloon of William Iles of Cedar burned to the ground early yesterday morning, entailing a total loss of the building and contents, and endangering the lives of two men who were sleeping in the rooms above the saloon.
The fire was discovered by Pat Doran, the bartender, and Charles Lindsay, both of whom were sleeping in the rooms above the saloon. The fire then was burning so fiercely and had so much progress that the men had no time to secure their property, and scarce time to seize their clothes before making their exit. Doran did manage to throw a trunk containing about $40 worth of nickels from the slot machine.
Doran and Lindsay escaped from the burning building, and clothed themselves in the snow nearby, not caring to do so in the building, thought it would have been much warmer there.
The saloon building and ice house were burned to the ground, and none of the contents could be taken out except the trunk mentioned. The loss is about $500 on the building and $800 on the stock. Insurance of $800 was carried in the agency of O.P. Carver of this city.
It was the utmost difficulty that the people who were aroused by the fire succeeded in saving the livery establish of Nolan Bros., adjoining the saloon. If that had caught fire, there would have been little chance of saving the business part of the town.
The fire is supposed to have caught from the stove in the saloon.
