The growing community of Sister Bay from a 1907 postcard produced by the Crandall Post Card Co. of Sturgeon Bay, submitted by Wally and Rita Brandt of Ellison Bay.
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The village of Sister Bay was practically destroyed by fire about midnight Thursday last, four store buildings, a large hotel and residence being wiped out.
The fire was discovered about 11:30 Thursday night in the store occupied by Louis Lerner, and the alarm was immediately spread as rapidly as possible. As a terrific gale was blowing from the north at the time, the flames spread with great rapidity, and when the people of the village had arrived in sufficient number to form a bucket brigade, the entire building had become enveloped in fire and the empty store building of Frank Smith had become ignited from the heat.
The store building to the south owned and occupied by Frank Bunda was next to catch fire in spite of the efforts of those assembled to stay the progress of the flames and was soon a seething mass of fire, the frame buildings being like paper when fanned by the gale that was blowing.
The intense heat from the three buildings that were now burning caused the porch of the Henry Pleck hotel to catch at this time, and the heat was so great on the side of the exposed part that nothing could be done to save the large and magnificent building from destruction, and it was soon a mass of flames from top to bottom, threatening the property to the southwest. The large icehouse in the rear followed the hotel, but the barn was far enough removed to escape, the window blowing away from the building.
When the hotel had got a good start, the general store of Mrs. Wenzel Bunda across from the Frank Bunda corner caught and so rapidly did the flames envelop the structure that no time was had to remove a thing from the place except the mail and valuables in the post office, which was also in this building.
From here the fire spread to the residence owned by And. Roeser and occupied by Louis Lerner, and this followed the fate of the others, none of the contents being rescued.
The residence of Casper Nys, which was directly in line with the flaming structures, was only saved by the desperate work of some of those who had gathered at the scene, many of whom were tourists that had been attracted by the illumination of the surrounding country. The fact that a large tree stands in front of this place also helped to save it, as much of the burning embers were stopped in its branches.
The implement warehouse of the J.C. Dana Co. was saved because of its being covered with iron. The roof and porch caught fire in several places but were easily extinguished.
The store of J.A. Pahl adjoining the Mrs. W. Bunda place on the south was heated up to the burning point and only saved by the application of plenty of water. This building is also covered with iron.
The family of Casper Nys was driven out of their home, as they expected every minute to see it go with the rest of the places. The family of Henry Starr also removed much of their furniture from the residence in anticipation of being burned out as the burning embers were falling thick and fast in every direction when the six buildings were going all at the same time.
Not a solitary thing was saved from any of the places burned, everybody being so intent on saving their own property or stopping the fire that no thought was given to removing the contents of the stores. All the books and papers in the Frank Bunda store were destroyed. Mr. Bunda saved some books but in the excitement of the moment got hold of some worthless papers instead of those in which the accounts were kept.
During the height of the fire, a large gasoline tank exploded and a volume of smoke and flame shot out that was terrifying.
The hotel of Henry Pleck was vacant with the exception of the bar-room, which was in charge of Emil Baker, who sold soft drinks and looked after the place.
The fire practically wiped out the business part of the village, which is now without a general store or hotel.
Mrs. Wenzel Bunda will make an effort to rebuild, and Louis Lerner states that if he can get a place in which to do business he will continue, being in such a position that he is obliged to keep things going, as he has many accounts in the vicinity.
All the telephone lines were burned down and the communication with the outside world was cut off. The company had men on the ground early the following day and the line was in working order by Friday afternoon.
Hundreds of people visited the scene of the conflagration the day following, coming from all parts of the county. Summer tourists stopping at Ephraim and Fish Creek were numerous and many took Kodak pictures of the ruins, which smoldered all the day after.
