four fires practically ravaged the town. the first of these fires occurred in 1884, it consumed 36 businesses, 2 hotels and 10 homes. another occurred in 1901 and one in 1903, destroying six saloons, one restaurant and two homes. the fourth fire in 1908, took out an entire city block and 10 homes. the tetzlaff building was one of the few structures that survived three fires because unlike the other buildings, that were made basically out of wood material, the tetzlaff was made of brick. the tetzlaff building was built in 1897, by a german immigrant by the name of august tetzlaff. the building housed a saloon, a bordello and in the back of the building, thru an alley, there was a chinese chophouse and wu's joint, an opium den.