TURNER HALL - 1920

On July 9, 1920, a conflagration swept East Denver and water was scarce.

Flames gutted East Turner Hall, a social venue at 20th and Arapahoe streets, and spread to businesses - including an auto company and hotel - as well as houses. Sections of the hall collapsed, showering bricks and cinders.

A general alarm summoned 22 engine and truck companies, almost all of Denver's firefighting force. Police patrolman Forrest Ross carried a semi-conscious woman from the Madison Hotel, The Rocky Mountain News reported.  

Low hydrant pressure disrupted operations .

Quoted by the News, W. F. R. Mills, manager of the city water department, said: “An attempt to direct twelve hose streams from two six-inch mains would naturally tend to reduce the pressure, to say nothing of the fact that everywhere demand was being made on the mains by garden hoses used in fighting the score or more of fires that sprang up." 

Describing the initial stages of the fire, Denver Fire Chief John Healy said: "Engine Company No, 4, whose engine house is only a block from Turner Hall, responded to the alarm as soon as it was sent into the central station. It hardly took a moment for it to get to the scene, and when the combination wagon arrived they were unable to park in the alley on account of the flames flaring thru the windows."

East Turner Hall was located at 2150 Arapahoe Street. Earlier that day, firefighters contended with a major blaze at St. John's First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1846 Arapahoe Street. Remnants of both structures are long gone. 

FIRE RESPONSE

SAVED WOMAN