Last month marked 100 years since a massive fire ripped through downtown Galeton, destroying most of the businesses on Main and Bridge streets. The fire of Jan. 19, 1916, is thought to be the worst and most costly in the borough’s history.

“When I was younger, I used to hear stories from people who had been there,” said Vincent Miller, Galeton resident and the longest serving member of the Galeton Fire Department.

According to the book, Goodyear Hose Company 1906-2006, which Miller helped write, the blaze of Jan. 16, 1916, wasn’t an ordinary structure fire. The blaze started in the basement of the Spiero and Barkus Department Store, and due to high winds, quickly spread to surrounding buildings on the south side of Main Street and down both sides of Bridge Street.

For more information, see this week’s Free Press-Courier.