Industry: Detroit Steam Forge - Detroit, MI

The Detroit Steam Forge was located at the foot of Mt. Elliott Avenue and the Detroit River.

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Time Line

1883. October 4. The Detroit Steam Forge at the foot of Mt. Elliott avenue on the east side of the street, was completely destroyed by fire at 9:40 o'clock last night. The Fire Department was promptly on hand after the alarm sounded from box 37, and despite their bvest efforts the building was leveled with the ground.

The works were located in a large frame structure, about 300 feet in length. They were owned by C.H. Buhl, and leased by the Peninsular Car Works, which operated them, and the loss falls chiefly on Mr. Buhl. Fire Commissioner Croul stated that it was an impossibility to save the building as it burned like a box of matches, and if forty engines had been on the ground they could not have done more than what was done. The department, however, rendered good service in preventing the spreading of the flames which at one time was greatly feared.

The fire was discovered first by an employee named Henry Yerke who was at work with eight others in the forge at the time. On account of a press of business it was necessary to have a night force in the institution. Yerke noticed flames issuing from a closet on the east side of the forge in which the workmen put on their clothes. He at once gave an alarm and with his fellow-workmen made an effort to get a hose in the forge into service. The fire, however, spread with such great rapidity that the men saw that they could be of no help and dropping the hose they ran for their clothing which they succeeded in saving.

In the forge were six boilers, furnaces, four steam hammers, a large quantity of machinery, tools, stock, finished and unfinished, supplies, etc. The machinery is nearly all owned by Mr. Buhl, although the car works had considerable. Stock and supplies were owned by the car works, mostly axles and appliances. The company had about 125 men at work, and the forge was being operated to its fullest capacity. The loss of stock is not covered by insurance. Three quarters of the building loss is insured by Mr. Buhl. [DFP-1883-1004]