Print, Photographic

Photograph. Sepia-toned glossy photo showing a fire at a 3-story brick building which was the "Worth Clothes Retail Store." The view shows dark smoke billowing from the second and third floors while firemen are fighting the blaze from the street. Four ladders are leaning against the side of the building and four water jets are being directed into the second floor windows. An aerial ladder truck is parked in the street and is positioning its ladder. A newspaper article that is taped on the verso shows "Ten pumpers and ladder trucks go into action as flames sweep the American Building. A two-alarm fire which was discovered at 7:05 p.m. Thursday threatened complete destruction of the former home of the American Boy Magazine at Lafayette and Second. This picture was taken just before the flames burst through the roof, making it necessary to call additional equipment. Occupants of the building, including Worth Clothes, Inc., and the Arnold-Powers Co., printers, estimated their losses at $200,000." A blue ink stamp on the verso shows "Detroit Historical Museum, Subject: Fire, American Boy; Date: 2/12/42."