|
Umeå City Fire
The Great Fire of Umeå took place in 1888 and destroyed most of the city of Umeå in Sweden. The unusual windy weather conditions also contributed to two other fires on the same day in Sweden. Umeå took the opportunity to complete its plans to restructure the city. Part of the new design included planting of birch trees along the streets, leading to Umeå being known as the "City of Birches". History The preponderance of fires around the city increased as agriculture methods changed. Historically the Sámi people had not used burning as a part of their practice, as it destroyed the lichen required by their reindeer. However, new farmers frequently used swidden or slash and burn farming. During the nineteenth century, the timber industry moved north, clearing the land of trees but leaving the waste behind and creating a fire risk. There was a fire in Norrland in 1851, and in the later 19th century fires swept the area every ten years or so: there were major fires in 1868 and in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Umeå Old Prison
The Umeå Old Prison ( or ''länscellfängelset'') is a former prison and hotel in Umeå. The building was completed in 1861. The prison was one of few buildings that did not burn down at the Umeå city fire, city fire of 1888. Thus, it is one of Umeå's oldest remaining buildings and is listed buildings in Sweden, listed building since 1992. The prison housed inmates until 1981 and during the 1980s and 1990s theater plays were organized there. In 2007–2008, the prison was rebuilt into a hotel. History Umeå old prison was one of some 20 provincial prisons designed by Wilhelm Theodor Anckarsvärd, who was the architect of Swedish Prison and Probation Service, National Swedish Prisons Board during the years 1855–1877. These prisons were built with the American Separate system, Philadelphia system as a model, which amongst other things meant that common prison cell, cells were replaced by individual cells where prisoners would be able to contemplate their fate. The prison hou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1888 Fires
Events January * January 3 – The great telescope (with an objective lens of diameter) at Lick Observatory in California is first used. * January 12 – The Schoolhouse Blizzard hits Dakota Territory and the states of Montana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas, leaving 235 dead, many of them children on their way home from school. * January 13 – The National Geographic Society is founded in Washington, D.C. * January 19 – The Battle of the Grapevine Creek, the last major conflict of the Hatfield–McCoy feud in the Southeastern United States. * January 21 – The Amateur Athletic Union is founded by William Buckingham Curtis in the United States. * January 26 – The Lawn Tennis Association is founded in England. February * February 27 – In West Orange, New Jersey, Thomas Edison meets with Eadweard Muybridge, who proposes a scheme for sound film. March * March 8 – The Agriculture College of Utah (later Utah State University) i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
