The Making of University of Michigan History
Economics Building burns on Christmas eve...
A Christmas Eve fire ravaged the historic Economics Building, destroying or damaging many valuable books and manuscripts. Built in 1856 as the Chemical Laboratory, it had been home to the Economics Department since 1909. The department's Leo Scharfman Library was a total loss. Many fire and water damaged books and documents were freeze dried in University Food Service trucks and the vacuum chamber at the UM Aerospace Building. A UM employee, who had been fired shortly before the blaze, was later charged with arson.
Additional Resources
Photo Source: UM Economics Building Fire, Dec. 24, 1980; News & Information Service, Ser. E, Box 1