Valley Girl Views: When The State Capitol Burned

On February 2 1897, at 12:45pm, the Pennsylvania House was in session, and the Senate was just about to convene after a recess, when flames were discovered in the attic of the Capitol building.

The Capitol Before The Fire. 1822-1897

(Two of those columns stand in Lycoming County, and One in Clinton County)

On the morning of February 2, 1897, Senator John C. Grady detected the smell of smoke in the Capitol. Senator Grady made two requests for pages to check the building for any indication of where the odor was coming from. As the Capitol had "frequently been visited by slight fires", and the buildings employees had never had any trouble putting them out, no concern was raised.

When the fire was finally discovered, a hasty bucket brigade, including senators, was formed.

Original Pennsylvania State Capitol Building

"This amateur fire force traced the fire to the magnificent apartments of Lieutenant Governor Lyon, on the floor above the Senate Chamber. An axe speedily shivered the woodwork, and a column of flame shot out. The efforts of the bucket brigade were useless, as the dry timbers composing the rafters and joists of the building burned rapidly, and the fire ate its way downward and through the ceiling into the Senate Chamber."

A call was made to the city fire department, but in the excitement a box was somehow struck, "which did not summon the firemen to the capitol"

When it seemed that the building was in serious danger the Senate attaches turned their attention to saving the Senate and State records and the handsome furniture, and before this work was completed many of the men were laboring at the risk of their lives in a stifling atmosphere and amidst falling brands.

By the time the people in the House had realized the seriousness of the situation, they were in peril of their lives. The flames and smoke made their way into the Chamber and drove the throng headlong before them. So rapid was their advance that some, people had no time to even make their escape by the doors, but were compelled to jump from the windows to the ground.

When the city Fire Department finally arrived on the scene, the flames were pouring through the roof of the building. A driving snowstorm and a strong northwest wind doomed the building to destruction.

The ruins of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building

Although quite a few people were cut, bruised, or dealing with smoke inhalation, no one was killed in the fire.

The most valuable of the State and legislative records which were in the building were saved, but the records and statistics of the Department of Public Instruction, which Included much Valuable information bearing upon the public schools of the State, were destroyed.

First built in 1822, the building was considered a complete loss. Damages were estimated at 1.5 Million dollars.

The State Legislature used nearby Grace Methodist Episcopal Church as temporary quarters.

Following the fire, there was a debate over relocating the capitol, moving it back to Philadelphia where it had been from 1790 to 1800. Ultimately the Legislatures voted to tear down the destroyed building and build new at he same location.