Today in Johnson City History, Friday, May 23, 2025

A factory fire, a solar eclipse, and lots more

Wednesday, May 23, 1900: A century and twenty-five years ago today, the Herald and Tribune reported several short news accounts pertaining to local citizens; there were a few advertisements mixed among the news accounts. A few of the news accounts and advertisements were as follows: “Last Friday night, at about 9 o’clock, fire broke out in Doe River Woolen Mills, in Elizabethton, and the building and machinery were consumed. Quite a lot of manufactured material was saved. The loss is put at about $25,000, with insurance of $4,000.

“The mills were running to their capacity, and had been for some time to fill orders. The loss of the mills is a severe one, and if rebuilt will throw the company out of the benefits of this season’s work. We hope the directors will rebuild, as the concern had a good business and reputation well earned.”

“Next Monday will occur a total eclipse of the sun, visible in this place. The line of totality passes us to the southward, in North Carolina, but not so far away that the phenomena will not be of much interest to some and a great deal of curiosity to many.”

“There will be a public decoration of the graves in the old Urbana Cemetery at Limestone Station on next Saturday afternoon, May 26. Prominent speakers will be on hand. Let everybody come and bring plenty of flowers.”

Limestone, which is a community in rural Washington County, was previously often called Limestone Station.