The sequence is always unfortunate, but so many communities across our region have ended up with vastly improved firefighting equipment -- AFTER a devastating fire.

This was the case in Sharon Springs in 1926, when what was considered to be the most devastating fire in the village’s history struck.

The fire started between 3:30 and 4 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, and by its conclusion, 13 buildings were destroyed in a complete village block, bounded by Main, South and Center streets and Pavilion Avenue. The area today is that across from the Imperial Bathhouse. Damage estimates varied between $200,000 and $400,000 in published reports.

Fortunately no one was killed, as this was the off-season for tourists and vacationers, and most accommodations had closed for the winter.

Only part of a wall remained of the Sharon Academy Theater, right, as it burned along with the Sharon House and 11 other buildings in this village block of Sharon Springs on Nov. 21, 1926. In the background is the not-yet-opened Imperial bathhouse.

Miss Margaret White, 16, daughter of Dr. L.O. White, was awakened soon after 4 a.m. by the reflection of flames in her room. When she yelled to her father, he then noticed the Sharon House ablaze. The Whites had to flee their home, as it was soon to become a casualty from the inferno. Dr. White lost all his medical records and equipment in the office.

It is believed the fire started in a defective chimney of the Sharon House. According to The Cobleskill Times, the fire "quickly communicated to the adjoining buildings. Local firemen, unable to stay the spread of the flames sent out calls for aid to Cherry Valley, Cobleskill, Canajoharie and Fort Plain. The whole village was in danger."

Help arrived quickly. Cobleskill was first to arrive with a pumper engine, making the 14-mile trip in an unbelievable 18 minutes, given the quality of roads during that era. The others soon followed, each with their modern equipment to battle the flames.

The firefighters’ strategy was to keep the fire from spreading beyond this village block. Cobleskill, Canajoharie and Cherry Valley fire squads spread out and protected such landmarks as the Lincoln Hotel, H.E. Wilber House, the Adler House, Hotel Washington and the newly completed Imperial Bathhouse. The strategy paid off.

However, The Cobleskill Times referred to the ruins of the village block as "The Grim Sentinel." All that remained was a tall black smokestack from the crumbled powerhouse of the Sharon House. Parts of crumbled walls stood in a ragged outline.

Gone from the destruction were: The Sharon House and a 40-room annex; an adjoining store and apartment house; The Academy motion picture theater; the Mallet estate residence occupied by Dr. White; The Arcade and Gift Shop; The Beehive, a fancy goods store; the Louis Ganz boarding house; and Eigan Brothers garage and sheds.[an error occurred while processing this directive]