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The McCannas were one of the earliest settlers in [[Miles City]]. The matriarch and at least two sons, both with fair sized families weathered two [[fires]] and a major death. One of the sons moved on to [[Alaska]]. They are probably related to the [[Rooney family]]. The adults were born in County Latrim, Ireland and came from Minnesota to Miles City. Bridgett ran at least one boarding house on Main Street between 3rd and 4th streets. They are Catholic, of course. Sons are Michael and James. Bridgett and probably Michael arrive in 1877, Michael's famile arrive in 1878. James arrives at least by 1878 and his family follows in 1881. They built a hotel at the corner of Casey and Jew St in old Milestown in 1878 and moved the building to Miles City in 1880. Known as the "Tongue River House" or more often, "Mrs. McCanna's house". 1880 Census: Michael is a laborer and in his house live his wife and three children, plus mother Bridget and Maggie (listed as a wife?) [[18 Jan 1884]] The Ursuline nuns stayed at her boarding house when they first arrived in Miles City and described the filth quite graphically in their letters home to the motherhouse in Toledo. [[23 Apr 1884]] Ad in YJ: Furnished rooms to rent at my house corner of Fourth and Main streets. Mrs. McCanna. [[2 Jun 1884]] 1 am Monday morning, a fire broke out in the home of Mrs. Sarah McCanna at Third and Main. Discovered by a soldier and Gus Malden, who raised the alarm. The upper floor rooms had light cloth lining the walls instead of plaster and the house went up quickly. The night watchman and deputy sheriffs Conley and Zahl had been at the RR depot waiting to arrest someone on the incoming train, but on hearing the yelling, ran to the fire, firing off the 2 shots that indicated a fire. The wind was blowing across Main (northward) so only the back of the adjoining house received extra damage, about $100 worth. Using only pumps and buckets, the citizenry turned out and saved as much furniture as they could and the house being unable to save the house, worked to save the remaining structures to the west, towards the river. Mrs. McCanna only discovered the fire by seeing its reflection. The fire started in an upstairs room and came down the chimney. Soon she was overcome with smoke and was only able to escape with the help of neighbors. The house was seven years old and one of the oldest ones in town, having been dismantled from its original site in old Milestown and moved here in 1877. It was old fashioned but comfortable and estimated to be worth about $1000, and was mostly covered by insurance. The adjacent building was owned by Chinese laundryman Gee Lee. They emptied their building and doused it with water. The damaged laundry was "bad" but "as Sunday was past the stock of washing on hand was light". A keg of powder was placed in the laundry building to blow it up if needed, but the wind changed and they didn't have to use it. B. McCanna, who lived in the second house from his mother's burning building, was carrying valuables from his house, including an incubator and a packaged mixture of dynamite and giant powder which he stacked near the barn. A spark ignited the package, blowing the end out of the incubator, scattering chickens and eggs all over and causing the crowd to fall back. [[17 Mar 1885]] A fire broke out in the 2 story building on Main near Fourth Street, the front of which was Toy Siug's laundry. A multitude of alarm shots brought a large crowd who rescued belongings and tried to put the fire out. Apparently, between the flames and the ignited keg of gunpowder, the buildings on each side were also destroyed, a small house to the west and Mrs. McCanna's house on the corner of Main and Fourth. Her house was valued at $600 and was insured. Total damage estimated at $1200 - $1500. [[18 Mar 1885]] A fire left Mrs. [[M. McCanna]] homeless and [[Towner Savage]], [[Major Borchart]] and [[Sam O'Connell]] took up a subscription for her, raising $150. Two days later the YJ published a different version: Smoke was pouring into Mrs. McCanna's house pretty lively when [[Dave Roche]] and [[Jim Whelan]] and other burst the door open and wakened Mr. and Mrs. Judd who also lived on the corner. Their furniture was all removed but Mrs. McCanna, lived in the next house, where the fire started, lost everything. [[Kid Roche]] and Jim Whelan had their hair and hands burned in the efforts to save property. A keg of powder was placed in one of the buildings, but Jim Whelan saw it and removed it. [[George Silverberg]] heard McCanna's hens cackling and transferred them from the coop to a place of safety. He also saved her cat. Probable cause was thought to be a lamp explosion. [[Judge Conger]] organized the bucket brigade. [[16 Apr 1885]] The Whitesides have taken the contract to rebuild another house for Mrs. McCanna on the site of the burned structure. [[1 Jul 1885]] the new house has a roof and will soon be completed. During 1885, Mrs. B. McCanna spent $2000 on 2 buildings and Mrs. M. McCanna spent $800 on a residence (according to a list of construction for the year). Apr 1886 ad: Leave your clothes at the Miles City dying works back of McCanna's. Dec 1886: [[Abe LeRoy]] receives a letter from [[Jimmy McCanna]] who is with his father in Alaska. He tells his "old pard" that he doesn't like Alaska as there ain't enough winter there. Sep 1887 Bridgetta McCanna owed $1 as a witness in probate court by the board of county commissioners. [[2 Mar 1890]] Mrs. Bridgetta McCanna, an old resident of MC, died on Sunday at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Maggie Mathews, at Williston, ND. She was quite elderly and feeble when she left MC to live with Maggie. She had quite a bit of real estate which yielded her considerable income at one time, but as the town shifted focus to the east, became less profitable.
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