• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Muddy River Sports
  • Podcasts
    • State of Play with David Adam
    • Muddy River Minute
  • Muddy River TV+
  • Support Muddy River News
  • Newsletter

Muddy River News

Our Home. Our News.

  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Politics
  • Muddy River Vibe
  • Blotter
  • Business
  • Local Matters
  • Markets & Ag
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • Real Estate
  • Shop
Home » News » The St. Francis School fire of 1899: Quincy was prosperous, growing and looking forward to Christmas
The Top Stories section is sponsored by:

The St. Francis School fire of 1899: Quincy was prosperous, growing and looking forward to Christmas

December 1, 2021 — by Carolyn Freas Rapp, Muddy River News Contributor

St. Francis Parochial School, built in 1892 and torn down in 1946 | Courtesy of the Quincy Public Library: Quincy Area Historic Photo Collection

(This is the first of six stories about the St. Francis School fire in December 1899, when 12 girls burned to death in one of saddest chapters of the Quincy community’s history.)

President William McKinley speaking at Washington Park on Oct. 6, 1899. | Image Courtesy of the Quincy Public Library: Quincy Area Historic Photo Collection

This story takes place 122 years ago, on Dec. 22, 1899. The event, which people still remember more than a    century later, took place in St. Francis School. It did not take place in the school building of today but in a school built in 1892 on the south side of Vine Street, which became College Avenue and is now closed off. 

St. Francis School was a handsome, three-story brick building of Gothic design, finished with yellow pine and oak. It cost $25,000, quite a sum of money in those days. Its tower stood 120 feet high. Just below it in a recessed enclave stood a beautiful white marble statue of an angel, with her hand raised in a blessing to those who entered its doors. It was purchased for a little less than $90 with donations from the school children.

Four classrooms were on the first floor, and four were on the second floor, along with cloak rooms and smaller rooms for the faculty. The entire third story of the building was the large St. Francis Hall, which was used for meetings and entertainments.  It seated between 600 and 700 people.

At the east end of the hall was the stage – a wondrous stage measuring 26 feet wide and 20 feet deep. It was completely equipped with scenery and set pieces bought in Kansas City for around $300. There was even a curtain with a Venetian scene on it. At the side of the stage were two dressing rooms that were entered by a narrow passageway with seven steps leading up. The parish was proud of this lovely hall, and it was used frequently for entertainments by student and community groups.

The St. Francis School just described was torn down in 1946 to make way for newer facilities. That’s just one of many things that have changed since 1899, so let’s begin our story with a short walk through Quincy at the turn of that past century.

Quincy was a prosperous, bustling, growing town of 42,000 people in 1899. It was the third largest city in Illinois by population. It was second in wealth and second in manufacturing importance.  Its importance was confirmed by a visit from then-President William McKinley in October that year.

The biggest manufacturers were the stove foundries, with 650 employees and an annual payroll of $468,000 – huge for the times. There were flour mills, sawmills, breweries, brick and paper and furniture and lime factories, bakers and confectioners, tobacco factories, cigar makers, Coopers, saddlery and harness businesses, carriage and wagon factories and a plow factory.  The Knapheide Manufacturing Company had just celebrated a half-century of success.

A magnificent bridge, a mile and a quarter long, spanned the Mississippi River and connected Illinois with Missouri. Eight different railroads connected the city with the eastern seaboard and points north, west and south. New St. Louis monthly magazine said, “Quincy has a worldwide reputation for the great number as well as the size and beauty of her churches.”  There were more than 40 at the tum of the century, representing every religious denomination.  Among them was St. Francis Solanus Church.

If you walked down any street in Quincy, you would surely see names like Bickhaus and Miller and Schmidt and Blomer and Wolf and Middendorf. German immigrants –  first, second and third generation – made up a large portion of the population. The first German settler arrived in 1829, and when Father A. F. Brickwedde arrived in 1837 -– speaking only German and no English – Quincy became the site of the first German Catholic church on the entire Mississippi River.

Because of this, the German population of Quincy grew by leaps and bounds. The immigrants crossed the ocean in search of a new life and ready to work hard. When they got to New Orleans and heard about the town up the Mississippi where a German priest said Mass in German, they flocked to Quincy. In 1899, Mass was still said in German at St. Francis.

If you were Christmas shopping in 1899, you might go to A. Doerr’s store on the northwest corner of Sixth and Maine to buy a man’s overcoat for $4.98 and a boy’s suit for $2.65. Sohm, Ricker and Weisenhorn at 520 Maine had men’s fancy holiday gifts in sterling silverware. For the women, the W.T. Duker department store at 704 Maine sold ladies’ hose for 25 cents and ladies’ ribbed wool vests for 59 cents.

Inside Sohm, Ricker & Weisenhorn, featuring fine china and glassware. | Image Courtesy of the Quincy Public Library: Quincy Area Historic Photo Collection

The drugstores were the children’s favorite. The Henry Germann Drug Store at 801 State and the Miller and Arthur Drug Store at 502 Maine offered a wide assortment of toys. The Heidbreder Drug Stores on both State and Broadway advertised they were Santa’s headquarters. Then, as it does today, the Christmas shopping and advertising opened the day after Thanksgiving. And then, as they do now, merchants tried to undersell each other. The Fox Dry Goods store at 617 Maine had a corset sale at one percent off regular price. Levy’s at 407 Hampshire offered 25 percent off any suit for men and boys.

So it was, the Quincy of 1899 — a wonderful and joyous community looking forward to Christmas and activities at their schools.

This series is written by Carolyn Freas Rapp and dedicated to her mother-in-law, Lucille Middendorf Rapp, whose father, George Middendorf, was present at the fire. Her relative, Colletta, was one of the girls who died. Ms. Rapp is a writer, storyteller, book lover, traveler and mother of three grown children.  She lives with her husband, Michael T. Rapp, in McLean, Va. She also is the author of “Garden Voices: Stories of Women & Their Gardens,” published by Water Dance Press.  

Copyright © Carolyn Freas Rapp and Muddy River News

Thanks to the Quincy Public Library for allowing use of images from the Quincy Area Historic Photo Collection.

Muddy River News is community journalism.  Our Home. Our News.  Storytelling is an important part of this.  We welcome contributors to share stories and material of interest to the community.  Email: news@muddyrivernews.com.

Miss Clipping Out Stories to Save for Later?

Click the Purchase Story button below to order a print of this story. We will print it for you on matte photo paper to keep forever.

Purchase Story
close

Do you want to receive the Muddy River News newsletter in your inbox every morning? Send us your email address, click "Subscribe" and don't forget to check your email to confirm your FREE subscription.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Filed Under: Noteworthy, Top Stories Tagged With: St. Francis Church, St. Francis School, St. Francis School fire

Primary Sidebar

MUDDY RIVER NEWS BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: TRACY GENENBACHER, T-FORCE ADVERTISING

https://youtu.be/UE3J4MjGofM
View Complete Forecast

Trending Posts This Week

  • Hannibal attorney running for judge charged with felony for attempted tampering with victim
    HANNIBAL, Mo. — A Hannibal attorney running to become an associate judge in the 10th Judicial Circuit was charged with...
  • Homan trial removed from July jury docket after prosecution learns potential witness is unavailable
    QUINCY — The trial of the former owner of the Barn nightclub, who faces one count of aggravated battery in...
  • Withdrawal of Wiley’s attorney in first-degree murder case could lead to change in prosecution as well
    QUINCY — The decision of a local attorney to take a new job has led to the jury trial of...
  • Mendon man charged with striking school board member in face pleads guilty to misdemeanor
    QUINCY — A Mendon man charged with striking a school board member at a meeting of the Mendon School Board...
  • Bailey dominates to take GOP gubernatorial nod
    Adams County Republicans and Congresswoman Mary Miller are gathered in the Town and Country Inn Ballroom for primary results.

Follow Us Online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Our Most Recent Podcasts

  • CLUB MUDDY PODCAST: Who the F… is Frankie Murphy Giesing June 30, 2022
  • Trump talks Miller endorsement, Adams Co. visit June 23, 2022
  • CLUB MUDDY: Breaking the seal June 22, 2022
  • BOOK NOOK with Ron Kinscherf June 13, 2022
  • BOOK NOOK: Libations for the Library May 18, 2022
  • Book Nook for April 26, 2022 April 26, 2022
  • Book Nook for April 19, 2022 April 19, 2022
  • DOB and the BBB: April 7, 2022 April 7, 2022
  • Book Nook: April 6, 2020 April 7, 2022
  • Book Nook: Quincy Public Library for March 22 March 22, 2022

More Top Stories

Muddy River News This Week: Adam Yates, chief of Quincy Police Department

by J. Robert Gough, Publisher

Bob Gough talks to Adam Yates, Quincy's new police chief, about the state of the department and gives a warning about the elimination of cash bail in Illinois. Muddy River News This Week is furnished by Harvey's. … ...Read Full Article about Muddy River News This Week: Adam Yates, chief of Quincy Police Department

Ask MRN: Are the cameras at Broadway intersections recording traffic on video?

by David Adam, MRN Editor

Dear MRN, Are these cameras (on Broadway) recording traffic on video? Can we see or watch the video? What are these cameras used for? The camera shown in the photo above, and others like them at other intersections throughout Quincy, are used to detect vehicle movement to help regulate traffic … ...Read Full Article about Ask MRN: Are the cameras at Broadway intersections recording traffic on video?

Daily Muddy: Ashley and Brittany head to Hannibal to check out Tom Sawyer Days

by Muddy River News

Ashley Conrad and Brittany Boll with the Muddy River News staff make the trip to Hannibal for Tom Sawyer Days to check out the mud volleyball tournament, interviewing the tournament coordinator, one of the event's younger competitors and one of its oldest competitors (yes, that means you, Kevin … ...Read Full Article about Daily Muddy: Ashley and Brittany head to Hannibal to check out Tom Sawyer Days

Homan trial removed from July jury docket after prosecution learns potential witness is unavailable

by David Adam, MRN Editor

QUINCY — The trial of the former owner of the Barn nightclub, who faces one count of aggravated battery in connection to a March 2020 incident involving a former Quincy University student, has been removed from the July jury docket. Steven Homan, 48, of Quincy appeared before Judge Kevin Tippey … ...Read Full Article about Homan trial removed from July jury docket after prosecution learns potential witness is unavailable

Hannibal attorney running for judge charged with felony for attempted tampering with victim

by David Adam, MRN Editor

HANNIBAL, Mo. — A Hannibal attorney running to become an associate judge in the 10th Judicial Circuit was charged with a felony earlier this month for offering a victim $4,000 not to testify against his client. Luke Bryant, prosecuting attorney for Marion County, filed a complaint in Marion … ...Read Full Article about Hannibal attorney running for judge charged with felony for attempted tampering with victim

Footer

Coverage Area

Muddy River News LLC
535 Maine, Suite 4A
Quincy, IL 62301

Have a Story or News Tips? Contact Us!

Phone: (217) 577-8044
Email: news@muddyrivernews.com

Copyright © 2022 • Muddy River News LLC • All Rights Reserved • Privacy Policy