An older chapter in the Palmer Building's history

Some years ago, I entertained myself by tracking down the histories of many buildings on the Chariton square while architectural historian Molly Myers Naumann was writing our successsful application for the Chariton Courthouse Square National Historic District (National Register of Historic Places).

That was when we figured out that this old building just north of the alley on the east side was the oldest building in the district, built during 1866 and the early months of 1867. We know that because Elijah Lewis, a longtime editor of The Chariton Patriot, arrived in Chariton during early February, 1867, by stage coach from Albia. At that time, he recalled in an article headlined "Thirty Years" and published in The Patriot of Feb 18, 1897, "Oliver Palmer was just finishing his two story brick store on the east side, at that time the only brick building in town."

Looks are a little deceiving here because an entirely new front was added to the original structure in 1925, but the age of the building is evident along the alley and from the rear.

What we didn't know at the time was that Mr. Palmer had built an earlier brick building on the site that was destroyed by fire during late October or early November 1864, clearing the way for the structure that still is standing (I'm not sure which Wednesday "on Wednesday night last" refers to).

Here's an account of that fire, published in The Chariton Patriot of Nov. 3, republished in the Indianola Weekly Banner of Nov. 10, 1864, under the headline, "A Terrible Calamity." Editions of the 1864 Patriot do not exist, so news items republished elsewhere are sometimes the only clues we have to what was going on in Chariton at the time.

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On Wednesday night last our town was visited by a most terrible calamity. About two o'clock Wednesday morning Samuel Carpenter, a clerk sleeping in the store of O.L. Palmer on the east side of the Square, was awakened by smoke which almost strangled him. He immediately got up, put on his pants, and started to go downstairs --- but on reaching the stair door, he found that the lower room was all on fire. He then ran to the door on the south side of the house and gave the alarm, and in the meantime let himself down by a block and tackle used for raising goods.

The bells were rung and every person as soon as apprised of the fire promptly repaired to the scene of disaster ready to lend a helping hand. the crowd arrived too late to stay the tide of the raging fire, for already the whole of the lower story was wrapped in flames. They however succeeded in rescuing two sacks of coffee which was all that was saved from the building.

Their attention was then directed to saving the goods in the adjoining buildings. The goods of Samuel Vansickle were all removed except probably a few articles in the wareroom. In a short time the north wall of the brick fell outward crushing Vansickle's store room to the ground.

It was then thought that the progress of the fire could be stopped and the buildings on the north be saved; and by the industry, coolness and energy of the crowd they succeeded in staying the further spread of the fire. The total loss is estimated about about $45,000. How the fire originated no one as yet can tell. It is thought it may have caught from the stove, or from the flues, or from matches, but which of the three is conjecture.

The lesson taught our citizens by this occurrence is three-fold. 1st, be careful of your fire and matches; 2d provide a hook and ladder company; 3d, insure your property.

We sincerely sympathize with Messrs. Palmer (and Vansickle) in their heavy losses, but the destruction of so much property is not only a loss to them, but to the country. The best business house in town --- the largest stock of goods -- have been uttlerly destroyed. (Chariton Patriot, Nov. 3d).

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If you look at the alley side of the building as it stands now you'll see new brick, inserted some years ago when the Lucas County Preservation Alliance undertook a major rescue effort to prevent that wall from collapsing into the alley. The contrast between the new brick and the old brick, covered by many layers of paint, is evident. That operation also stitched the new front and the side wall back together where cracks had developed and involved building a new frame interior structure to support the second floor and take weight off the side wall.

The Alliance, which acquired the building in order to rescue it, has "mothballed" it, awaiting future developments.