Following is the account of the "Big Fire of 1895" which led to the formation of the Mombasha Fire Co. - Monroe Fire Dept. The Village of Monroe was a scene of desolation the morning after the fire. Half ruined brick walls, furniture, hardware, dry goods, were left standing about in lost fashion. Groups of men stood among smoking beams and timber, women and children cautiously inspected the ruins for anything salvagable. All these told about the previous nights distruction. All along the Erie Railroad line the news of the fire in Monroe spread. A number of men from nearby towns took the early morning trains to satisfy their curiosity. As they stepped out of the train cars, the scene of devestation lay before them. Lake and Main Street were the most seriously damadged and lay in complete ruin. The fire originated in the rear of an unoccupied building and had been buring for approximately 2 hours before being discoverd at 11PM. Although the building was usually unoccupied, it was used by young men to play cards and some other sports. The presence of a keg of gun powder in the building kept many people from attempting to extinguish the fire. Once the keg exploded the villagers worked dilligently bringing buckets of water to the fire. The fire began to make much headway and started attacking the adjacent buildings. With no firefighting equipment in the Village, a call was placed by telegraph to the Goshen Fire Department. The Cataract Engine and Hose Co. responded as promptly as a special train could be obtained to hold their equipment. Cataract arived with their hand pumper and manpower at about 1:00AM. Although the fire was unstoppable, the Cataracts were credited with saving the rest of the Village. 103 years later at our Centennial Anniversary Parade the Cataracts were officially thanked by being chosen to march behind the Mombasha Fire Co. At this parade the Cataract brought the actual fully restored hand pumper which fought this fire. The fire raged from 11pm till 6am and devastated many of the downtown buildings. The Erie Train Station (which was hit by a large fire in 1978) and Flour and Feed Building directly accross the street were in great danger, but were saved by the assistance of Goshen FD and by Villagers hanging wet canvas and carpets on the buildings.