The borough of Selinsgrove, Snyder County was struck by the “Big Fire” on October 30^th of 1874, just two years after another blaze had raced through the town. The hero of the 1872 fire was a man who borrowed a horse and raced to Sunbury to enlist the aid of their fire apparatus. W.S. Keller was thrown from his horse, suffered severe head injuries, and never regained his mental faculties.

Information on the 1874 fire was detailed on October 27, 1932, in the Selinsgrove-Times by its owner and regular columnist Agnes Selin Schoch.

“On the afternoon of October 30th, 1874, there was a party In Selinsgrove, where all the young ladies of the town were assembled. The occasion was a sewing bee and bridal shower, for several of the young ladies were to be married in the near future. The party dispersed and the young ladies went to their homes, changed their party finery for a less pretentious dress, and while helping with the evening duties about their homes, related the afternoon's pleasure to their families.

“The party finery and the cameos had been placed in trunks along with the rest of the trousseau for safekeeping, as there had been so many fires about this time that everyone lived in continual dread of their property being the next one to burn. People never went to bed at night without planning what they would do in case of fire. At 7:30 o'clock of that very evening, the much-dreaded fire alarm was sounded. George Schnure's barn was on fire, and it was plain to see that the fire was spreading with great rapidity.”

Special trains were enlisted to bring Sunbury fire equipment from that city to help locals fight the flames. A later newspaper account reported a large amount of property was stolen during the confusion.

Although close to sixty buildings fell victim to the blaze, the financial loss incurred was lower than the one experienced two years earlier. It seems that nearly every property owner who suffered damage in 1874 was insured.

Every claim was paid without question by the adjusters, over $100,000 in all.  There was one instance where a man claimed $100 for apple butter. The adjuster had to smile and remarked that they were great apple butter eaters. However, he did not dispute the loss.

Who or what started the fire was never determined. In March of 1875, a man by the name of Simon J. Wenrich was put on trial in Snyder County for starting the fire a year earlier.

Testimony from a number of witnesses revealed he made threatening remarks in letters, and to others in public regarding charges against his brother George. He reportedly said he would murder the person responsible and be revenged or burn the town in ashes.

Despite the testimony, the Court found Wenrich not guilty, but he was ordered to pay the cost of prosecution.

Arson had been suspected of the February 1872 fire as well. It started in the stable of John App at South Market and East Walnut Streets. Whipped by high winds, the flames swept north a block and a half, damaging properties on Pine, Market, Walnut and Water Streets.

Among the buildings lost were the Bergstresser tannery, the Tribune newspaper plant, the Baptist church, and numerous private homes.