Thomas and Kari Veblen, Nerstrand, Minnesota, ca. 1870.

The abandoned Whitesocks School near Rochelle, Georgia, ca. 1970s. Black students were segregated from white ones in the 1920s, when Oscar Howard attended. From the Oscar C. Howard papers (P1842), Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society.

Cover of the program for the Hinckley Fire survivors’ sixtieth reunion, held in Hinckley on August 14 and 22, 1954. From the Betty Moore and family papers, 1848–1973 (bulk 1920–1950s), P2698. Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul.

A fire relief house built on Court Avenue in Sandstone for victims of the Hinckley fire. after September 1, 1894. Photographed in October of 1979.

Photograph of survivors of the 1894 Hinckley fire taken at the reunion held on the fiftieth anniversary of the fire, 1944. From the Betty Moore and family papers, 1848–1973 (bulk 1920–1950s), P2698, box 2. Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul.

A pocket watch taken from the hand of a victim of the Great Hinckley Fire of 1894. The watch has a silver alloy case and a white porcelain face. Manufactured in 1884 by the Elgin National Watch Company of Elgin, Illinois.

St. Paul and Duluth Railroad Company train and several railroad men, including John Wesley. Blair was an African American porter on the Eastern Minnesota train that rescued hundreds of people from the fire in Hinckley. He was honored as one of the heroes. He is second from the right in the photograph.

Root's engine, St. Paul and Duluth Railroad Company. The engine powered the last train load of survivors out of Hinckley during the fire in 1894. Photographed ca. 1895. James Root was the engineer on the evacuation train.

People posed in front of a house built for Hinckley fire victims, after September 1, 1894.

September 15, 1894, letter from the C. D. and Thomas D. O’Brien Law Office in St. Paul to John W. Blair in recognition of his gallant conduct on September 1, 1894. Enclosed was a check for $25 dollars from Mrs. Charles E. (Lida) Smith. From the John W. Blair papers, 1867–1915 (P1788). Manuscripts Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul