NOXON — For a city with a population of less than 200 people, every downtown business is important to the community.
On Tuesday morning, February 27th, the community of Noxon lost three beloved businesses to a fire. Residents watched as first responders extinguished the fire at their favorite spots.
Toby’s Tavern was one of the businesses burned down Tuesday. The restaurant was opened by him in 1969 and is now owned by Toby’s daughter, Gail.
Restaurants are more than just watering holes for communities.
“Toby’s was a family place,” said Noxon resident Maria Murray, who grew up in the area. She said, “It felt like a family dance, the kids dancing, the little ones had pillows and blankets, and they fell asleep listening to the music.”
Thousands of Susan B. Anthony coins surrounded the walls, ceiling and bar top of Toby’s with customers’ names.
“It’s a well-known place around here, with a lot of silver coins, and it’s kind of an institution. It’s sad to see it go,” says one Noxon resident.
Another restaurant, the Mercantile Cafe, and the Angry Beaver, where area residents had gotten their groceries, were also gutted.
“No one was hurt, and that’s the most important thing,” Noxon resident Debbie Weber said.
As soon as news of the fire spread, community support rallied in the area. A donation jar for Angry Beaver employees was placed at Trout’s Naughty Pine Saloon in His Creek.
The quick response from community members comes as no surprise to those who live in Noxon.
“It’s a really great little community. If someone is in trouble, everyone shows up, and that’s how it works. That’s exactly what the Noxon neighbors are doing, and that’s what’s great about it, but this is just the way it is. “It’s small town America,” one resident said.
