Latest fire in Leaf River was 3-3-01 at 12:35 a.m. Saturday morning 17 rural area fire departments fought the fire.  Two explosions
rocked the downtown area injuring two Leaf River Firefighters.  The fire left 10 persons homeless and completely destroyed Engle Mgf.  This is the second time this building burned and the last.  It was formerly the M.E. Church built in 1885.
Photo by Dave Borgmann
Photo by Dave Borgmann
Photo by Dave Borgmann
Photo by Dave Borgmann
Photo by Dave Borgmann
Photo by Dave Borgmann
Photo by Dave Borgmann
Fire Strikes Leaf River again !
On April 7, 2001 the most recent fire was at 3962 West Grove Rd., Leaf River, the "old" country school house "Center School" burned as the cause determined by State Fire Marshall was Electrical.  The School was converted into a home about 1922.  The building was saved, but most the contents were destroyed.  The family living there are living in their Camper Trailer at the residence.  The fire was fought by Leaf River, Mt. Morris, Forreston, and Byron Firefighters...  Winds exceded 40 mile an hour which made it a little more difficult to extinguish.
Fire History
This is a photo of the Opera House, a early landmark in Leaf River taken July 4th, 1907.
The Princess Opera House, provided a place for cultural and social activities in the town for many years.  In its beginning, chautauques, lectures, and concerts presented by traveling troupes sometimes lasted for a week.  On June 5th, 1914, the Senior Class of Leaf River High School held Commencement Exercises at the Princess Opera House.  The class members were:  Lauren E. Cave; Mamie L. Reber; Clark E. Rowe; Edith O. Coblentz; Grace G. Palmer; Ruth E. Stine; Paul H. Palmer; Nellie C. Fairlamb; and Erma F. Kuntzelman.  Later, it served as a mvie house for silent and talking films, a dance hall, a meeting house, and the hall for the Rebekah Lodge.  In more recent years it served as a popular place during the Thanksgiving Season, for the Sportsmen Club to hold their annual poultry raffle.  This remained one of Leaf River's longest standing buildings, though the years took their toll and the Opera House began to show signs of use and age. 
When Harley Garner's Feed Store burned in 1954, the Opera House burned with it.
Professor Holmes; Dolly Marks Avey; Vida Stine Hobart; and Pearl Foster Schreiber-- 1915 Graduation class of Leaf River High School in the Princess Opera House.
This orginally occupied the lot which later housed the Country Inn which demise would also be by fire on February 22, 1999.  At the time the photo was taken it was the left side a Barbershop & Laundry, and the right side the General Insurance Office.  A Jewery Store existed at the left of the Barbershop.
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Photos of the Country Inn fire in Leaf River on February 22, 1999 taken by: Phil Strang, Photographer for Stillman Valley Fire Protection District.
Harley D. Garner, Manager of Bowman Mill Leaf River, Illinois, later the Mill and Feed Store became Garner's which burned in 1954.