We The People: This Day in History, December 23
Clifton Downtown Fire Destroys Business Block and Spurs Rapid Rebuilding
Published: Dec. 23, 2025 at 8:04 AM CST
WACO, Texas (KWTX) - On December 23, 1905, a fire ripped through downtown Clifton, destroying an entire block.
The fire broke out along 5th Street, destroying a significant portion of the business district.
One of Clifton’s earliest businesses, the corner pharmacy, was lost in the fire.
The Clifton Record newspaper office was also destroyed.
The fire was devastating to the city’s business district, which was developing quickly after a boom in the 1880s.
The district was quickly rebuilt, with the corner pharmacy reconstructed and many of its historic features retained.
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