uwrbyls.html

The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., May 10, 1946, page 1

UNDERWOOD RAZED BY FIRE LAST SUNDAY
Fire Fanned By West Wind Causes Loss Of $80,000
Two Stores, PostOffice, Gas Stations, Tavern, Hotel, Residences Wiped Out

An uncontrolled fire burnt the town of Underwood to the ground Sunday morning at 11:45. Fire departments from Bingen, White Salmon and Hood River fought the blaze for three hours but seven large buildings, including a large general store, postoffice, hotel, two service stations and a beer tavern where all consumed by the huge conflagration which was fanned by a strong west wind.
Fire also destroyed four Indian shacks, two residences in Underwood and three cabins. The upper floor of the general store, owned by George Balsiger, was composed of apartments and Balsiger stated the fire started in the roof of the store near the chimney. The blaze also destroyed one car.
Traffic on the Evergreen highway was stalled for one hour when pumper lines were laid across the highway into the Columbia. A huge crowd of some two or three thousand persons watched the conflagration.
Brush fires were started on the Underwood side of the White Salmon River and burned to the top of the Underwood Heights hill, and sparks started a bad brush fire on the White Salmon side of the river endangering three homes.
Some insurance was carried on the buildings, and practically all the merchandise carried in the large general store, the two service stations and the beer tavern were destroyed.
The largest loss was the Balsiger store, a three story building, a frame structure some 45 years old. It was built in 1901 by Contractor Robard.
The beer tavern and the Texaco station were operated by Vernon Isenberg and his partner, Dayle Hall. The hotel was operated by Mrs. Mary Yane. Heinie Kapp stated early this week that his store building would be rebuilt soon.
Tuesday George Balsiger was opening up business in the S.P. & S. railway depot which he has leased for the present and telephone lines were strung into the depot Tuesday morning.
The big cold storage and packing plant of the Underwood Fruit & Warehouse Co., a short distance west of the business section, and the S.P. & S. railway depot were not in danger.

The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., May 10, 1946, page 1

UNDERWOOD RAZED BY FIRE LAST SUNDAY
Town Will Be Rebuilt Report Property Owners
Neighbors Rush To Aid And Provide Shelter For Homeless Of Stricken District

Neighbors flocking to the rescue of the stranded families who Sunday afternoon were burnt out of their homes in the disastrous fire that wiped out the tiny town of Underwood, two miles west of this city, are now housing the homeless families.
Total damage ran above the $80,000 figure late Monday and it was learned Monday that George E. Balsiger, owner and operator of the three-story general store, will rebuild as soon as possible. He carried insurance on the building and $6000 worth of insurance on the new stock of some $12,000 to $18,000 in the building. He purchased the building last year.
Frank Hunsaker, White Salmon real estate owner, and owner of one of the service station buildings, the hotel building and one residence, stated that he would also rebuild his buildings in Underwood as soon as possible.
The fire started in the roof of the general store owned by Mr. Balsiger. His son, Ted, first noticed the blaze near the chimney and the flames swept throughout the tinder box structure fanned by a high west wind.
Burning shingles from the main fire started the brush fire across the White Salmon river, a quarter of a mile away and several small brush patches were still burning Monday morning.
Volunteer workers helped the three city fire departments from Bingen, White Salmon and Hood River to curb the flames although unable to save any of the town's main buildings or any of the stock.

The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., May 10, 1946, page 1

UNDERWOOD STORE OPERATING AGAIN IN DEPOT BUILDING

George Balsiger, whose large general store burned to the ground in the fire that burned the town of Underwood off the map, was in operation again on Tuesday morning when he leased the S.P. & S. railway depot building and prepared to service his customers from the new location.
Meanwhile the hot embers of the disastrous fire still continued to roll smoke upward just across the street from Balsiger's new location.
Tuesday morning the American Red Cross came into White Salmon to outfit Indian families that lost all their belongings in the conflagration.