Pappe building destroyed by fire

Richard Pappe lived in Pratt, Kansas from about 1885 until 1889. In Pratt he owned operated the City Bakery on Main Street and possibly other real estate. On the first of September 1888, Richard and his family left for Germany for an extended visit, not returning to the US until the following March. A month later he filed a homestead claim in Kingfisher at the opening of the Oklahoma Territory on 22 April 1889. The fire reported in this clipping occurred while the Pappes were in Europe. We are not sure that the building mentioned was the City Bakery or some other Pappe property, but perhaps returning to find their business destroyed contributed to their decision to start over in Oklahoma.

Hutchinson Daily News, Hutchinson, KS, December 14, 1888

DISASTROUS FLAMES

Pratt, Kan., Visited by a Terrible Fire— Much Damage Done.

Dec. l2.— [Special.] — The most disastrous fire in the history of this city occurred it an early hour thin morning. The first discovery was made about one o'clock a. in. when the liftmen were seen issuing from the Morse building. Before the fire could be got under control it had extended to the buildings of Richard Pappe, Mel Bristow and Fred Kitte, all of which, comprising six business rooms, were consumed. Two of the rooms were occupied by restaurants, one as the Center hotel, one as a billiard hall, one as a butcher shop and the other was used as a ware room. The loss on the Morse building is about $4,000; on the Pappe buildings $5,000; and on the other two $2,600. This does not include the contents of the buildings. The total insurance will amount to less than $3,000. The fire made a clean sweep, and burned so .rapidly that nothing in the buildings was saved except three billiard tables and a few minor articles. The origin of the Fire is not known.

Pappe's City Bakery in Pratt Kansas

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