Floods, fires and train wrecks had a strong impact on Bangor's local economy over the years. There is no doubt that the year of 1899 was one of the most difficult and trying in Bangor's history. During that year alone, Bangor suffered a record breaking, devastating flood from the overflowing banks of Dutch Creek on June 11th which wiped out the Bangor Woolen Mills and the Bosshard Feed Mill. If this was not enough, some four months later on October 14th, a fire breaking out in the basement of Elsen House would destroy in three hours no less than six businesses at great cost to the community. (See article from Bangor Independent on the Great Fire from October 17, 1899). Fire continued to be a problem in 1911 when the Hussa Brewery endured a massive conflragration that gutted the main brew house. The arrival of the railroad in 1858 turned out to be a great turning point in Bangor's history impacting commerce, the agricultural community and passenger travel. At the same time, like most other communities, Bangor experienced a number of deaths relating to train accidents as well as destruction to property. The train wreck of 1926 remains one of the most memorable and most photographed. Fortunately, no human casualties resulted, but Harry Dowe's clothing store for men on Commercial St. would be partially destroyed as a result of the derailment. Another derailment in 1943 witnessed the collision of rail cars into the Bangor Lumber Yard which upended a fair amount of inventory for that business. Date exhibit created: July 25, 2012.
