Disaster struck the Ordway House at an early hour on Sunday eving, August 6, 1893. The flames that were to destroy it totally were found belching from under the roof of the main building near the southwest corner by Issac Kenwell, who immediately gave the alarm. Efforts were made to extinguish the conflagration, but too much headway had been gained. In a short time, the whole building was in flames, endangering several other buildings. Oliver Ste. Marie’s store, on the opposite corner to the west, had a narrow escape. George H. Tripp’s house and Nelson Ste. Marie’s on the opposite side to the north, were badly scorched. Ste. Marie’s caught fire once and it seemed that the building would be destroyed. In fact, danger threatened the entire village, but the flames were extinguished by willing hands. Fortunately, the rain of the afternoon had dampened roofs of the buildings, thereby protecting them from falling sparks and cinders. Nearly all the contents of the Ordway House were saved. It was Jim Hickey’s second hotel fire in three years
 

The above text is excerpted from: Aber, Ted, and King, Stella, The History of Hamilton County. Lake Pleasant, NY: Great Wilderness Books, 1965 and Aber, Ted, Adirondack Folks. Prospect, NY: Prospect Books, 1980