Looking Back: The Fire

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society


As mentioned previously, The Smithsonian Museum on Main Street is coming to Grain Valley on November 1, 2025! In 344 days “Democracy: Voices and Votes will open for six weeks at the Historical Society Museum in Downtown Grain Valley. In addition to the 800 square feet Smithsonian Exhibit, we are responsible for a local exhibit demonstrating how democracy has played a significant role in the history of Grain Valley; how “yes”, and sometimes “no” votes have shaped our town.
 
Over the next eleven months, I will from time to time write about historical events in Grin Valley which were shaped by the voice and vote of the citizens.
 
On the night of December 4, 1959, a major fire destroyed two downtown buildings; the Huff Building and Napier Hardware. They were destroyed because our town had no water to fight the flames. Although the vote for water had been on a ballot more than 10 times in as many years, the issue received a resounding NO from the town folks. 
 
The Jackson County Democrat
Thursday, December 10, 1959
 
Grain Valley
Burned buildings were built
About the turn of century
 
I am writing this news at the home of Mrs. Hugh Mote.  We have had no telephone service since the fire Friday night.  If anyone has tried to call me with news and got no answer, that is why.
            The Nellie Huff Douglas building that burned was built about 1898 and the hardware store was built a few years later.
            The building now owned by Mrs. Douglas was built by Ed Williams, father of Otis Williams of Grain Valley. He also made the bricks, having a brick kiln where the Claude Elliott property now is. (The house was at the end of Walnut Street, east of Main Street)
            It was a total loss. Eleven rooms were furnished or partly furnished for apartments.  Only one was occupied at the time of the fire, but Mrs. Douglas had a lot of things stored there, including keepsakes and wedding presents, some new furniture was in it and Mr. and Mr. Kenneth Turner had some furniture stored there.
            Mrs. Douglas feels especially sad about the loss of an old Bible in which she had a picture of her mother. And her china cabinet burned, in which were a lot of dishes—part of them being a set of new Blue Willow which her daughter, Mrs. Roland Frantz, had given her.
            In past years the lower floor was used for business. (Elmer) Rumbo and (Shirlee) Caldwell had a grocery store there a number of years. Goin grocery, a garage, several restaurants, an electrical shop, radio repair shop and for a short time, a 5& Dime store. And for a while, an apartment.
            Mr. and Mrs. Loring owned the hardware from 1911 until Mrs. Loring’s death in 1942. Mr. Loring died in 1929. While they owned it they enlarged the store. After their deaths, Walter Hoehn owned it until he sold it to Cecil Poage in 1945. Then he sold it to Charley Napier (and his wife, Mildred in 1949), who was owner at the time of the fire. Elmer Rumbo worked there for (the) Napiers.
            The Red Cross served coffee to the fire fighters etc., from the basement of the Christian church. It was carried on trays to those who could not leave their posts to go to the church. A lot of women helped. The church was left opened all night for the coffee-serving. Also Harold Frantz, Roland Frantz, and Ray Frantz served coffee n sandwiches from the Frantz garage.
 (Mrs. Gene Williamson was the Grain Valley reporter for The Jackson County Democrat.)
 
On that warm and balmy December evening embers from the fire drifted to several nearby homes and businesses and the volunteer firemen and crews from more that 10 nearby towns were able to put out several roof fires throughout the town. As a result of the fire a special bond election was held on December 19, 1959. The following information comes from city records: Bill No. 1, Ordinance No. 76 declaring the results of the election to wit: (1) proposition to issue the general obligation bonds of the city in the amount of $85,000 for the purpose of paying the cost of constructing a waterworks to be owned exclusively by said city and (23) proposition to issue the waterworks revenue bonds of the city in the amount of $98,000 for the purpose of paying the cost of constructing a waterworks to be owned exclusively by said city, results as follows: (the same for both Proposition 1 & 2:
First Ward
            For the bond . . . . . . . . 121 ballots
            Against the bond . . . . .    2 ballots
Second Ward
            For the bond . . . . . . . . . 140 ballots
            Against the bond . . . . . .    7 ballots
 
Amazing how many people got “all fired up” and after years of NO votes, they became a resounding YES! The VOICE OF THE PEOPLE WAS HEARD. THE VOTE WAS YES.

EVENING, DECEMBER 4, 1959
Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society

THE NEXT MORNING, DECEMBER 5, 1959
Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society