On a couple of long walks this week, I encountered some classic Baltimore Fire weather. This is a condition with rapid changes of wind and falling mercury. Heavy winds fanned the fire of Feb. 7 and 8, 1904, then a cold snap descended and added to the human misery.
Those volatile February winds overwhelmed the city's ability to deal with the fire. The blaze jumped from downtown building to building, fanned by those changeable gusts. It was only through the assistance of many other fire companies, including those in New York, Washington and Philadelphia, that the flames were held in check at the Jones Falls.
I stood at the corner of Park and Lexington a few days ago and looked at the vacant land where the old Castleberg's store stood. At the time of the fire, it was called J.W. Putts "Glass Palace" store, a fancy-wares emporium that offered china and other household items. The store exploded and shot glass everywhere.
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