On This Date in Minnesota History: January 16

January 16, 1963 – “A half-million-dollar fire swept through the center of downtown Princeton [on this date], destroying seven businesses, damaging several others and forcing 30 people to flee for their lives.

The blaze started about 1:45 p.m. from a short-circuited wire in the basement of the Skogmo Department Store on Princeton’s main street.”

Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Fire Destroys 7 Businesses in Princeton”; January 17, 1963, p. 1.

Photos taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Jan. 16, 2015,
as long as acknowledgement included