In the early hours of Saturday, March 6th, 1915, a devastating fire ravaged the Second District State Normal School in Warrensburg. The fire was presumed to have originated from faulty electric wires, which generated multiple sparks and ignited fires throughout the Academic Hall. The estimated loss at the time was approximately $400,000.
Fortunately, the state intervened with emergency funding, and the local community rallied to support the students, encouraging them to remain and participate in the rebuilding efforts. The Elks offered their club rooms on Culton St. as temporary classrooms, while prominent residents provided their homes for the same purpose.
The fire resulted in significant losses, including the destruction of records stored in the president’s office, which dated back 35 years. The library also suffered considerable losses, but the community responded by initiating a book collection drive.
Thankfully, there were no fatalities, and although four buildings were destroyed, the Dockery Gymnasium and Power Plant survived. The school remained operational, with classes resuming in various locations throughout the town the following Monday.
Accessing the damage once the sun came out.
Buildings before the fire pictured below
Dockery Gymnasium and Industrial Arts/Power House that survived the fire below.
Poem about the fire from the Rhetor
Such beauty taken by fire The New Chapel Theater was a great loss
TWO MONTHS AFTER THE FIRE ANOTHER CURIOUS EVENT TOOK PLACE
May 6th, 1915, The Normal School Base Ball team was involved in an accident with the derailment of the Mo.Katy Passenger Train 20 on the Hannibal Division.
The engine, tank,express car and coach left the track, leaving one woman hurt, but the team unharmed, around 7 pm. Dr. Allen, who was traveling with the team, called Warrensburg with the details. He said the team was on route after playing Kemper Military Academy in Booneville, to Kirksville where they were scheduled to play the Osteopaths the next day and Saturday. The team was forced to walk 4 miles to the nearest town of Higbee.
Information found in Warrensburg Star- Journal pictures from 1915 Rhetor
REBUILDING
Johnson County (MO) Historical Society 
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