Fires have plagued the greater downtown area of McMinnville since Union troops set fire to Depot Bottom during the Civil War in 1862.Fires early in the 20th Century which altered the appearance of downtown included the fire which leveled nearly an entire city block in 1925 and was long considered one of the most destructive fires ever to what is now called the historic district of McMinnville. Among those businesses wiped out by the massive fire at Spring and Morford streets was the office of the Southern Standard which was completely destroyed. The devastating fire only caused the newspaper to miss one press day.Just three years later, on the north side of downtown, the historic Southern School of Photography was reduced to rubble in a fire fought by bucket brigades.