VIDEO: The Summer of 1871 was unusually dry, creating a heightened fire risk around the Great Lakes. While the Great Chicago Fire is the most well known in history, towns across the Midwest were impacted on the same day in separate fires including many in Michigan.
Among them Manistee, Alpena, Port Huron and Holland. "They claimed the Midwest was one big powder keg just waiting to happen that season," said Deb Wake, education coordinator at the Holland Museum.
And on October 8th, 1871, that powder keg exploded. In Holland, it's unclear what exactly started the flames, but they really took off when they reached Cappon and Bertsch Leather Company.
"It all ignited," said Wake. "And then these winds, which were hurricane force winds, blew that right down Eighth Street and took out all the businesses."