MUSEUM MATTERS

It was the biggest fire that downtown Dublin had seen in a number of years. On February 2, 1917 about four in the afternoon, a fire erupted in the Commercial Hotel. Though it destroyed the building, no one was seriously injured from the blaze. Tom Rogers and the Ralph & Dossie Rogers Collection, Tarleton University | submitted photo

Mr. Evans, the owner of the hotel, said that some frozen water pipes needed to be defrosted and repaired the day before. After being thawed, probably using fire, bags were put over the pipes to keep them from refreezing. The fire probably grew from those bags. Tom Rogers and the Ralph & Dossie Rogers Collection, Tarleton University | submitted photo

Firemen fought the blaze in the freezing afternoon weather. Fire hoses were pulled out and water was poured on the fire. Only a piano and a few small items were saved from the building. Mr. Evans said that he planned on rebuilding with the support of friends and the Dublin business community. Most of the expenses were paid for with insurance. The Wiley Cottage, across the street, had been used as a hotel annex. It and another building were used to accommodate travelers overnight. Tom Rogers and the Ralph & Dossie Rogers Collection, Tarleton University | submitted photo

The hotel was later rebuilt as a two story brick structure and called the Evans Hotel. Over the years, there was a series of owners and name changes. It would eventually be called the Hotel Dublin. Rotary and other community groups would use the hotel dining hall as a community room for meetings. The hotel building is still there at Blackjack and Camden St. covered with a new rock facade. Tom Rogers and the Ralph & Dossie Rogers Collection, Tarleton University | submitted photo