A fire destroyed the old Elliottstown general store on Tuesday morning, February 23 The building which was over 100 years old had been converted into 3 apartments by the owner, Richard Poe of rural Dieterich. The occupants of the apartments escaped the blaze and were not injured, including pets of the lower apartment dwellers, Carrie Madlem and Jordan Parker. Anthony Segarro and his fiance and her 4 children lived in the upstairs apartment and the back apartment was occupied by Steve Willis. His concern was his tax papers which he had been working on. A motorcycle and a few items from the garage on the south end were the only things saved from any of the apartments.

Fire departments assisting the Dieterich Fire Department in fighting the fire were from Watson, Teutopolis, Effingham and Montrose. The Altamont and Stewardson Fire departments stood by at the Dieterich Fire Station. The Red Cross was also assisting at the scene and the Effingham City-Co. ambulance was standing by. The IL State Fire Marshall was also on the scene.

Elliottstown is located 4 miles south and 4 miles west of Dieterich and was a thriving town in the 1880's with a Village store, drugstore, blacksmiths, dressmaker, tin shop, wagon maker, hotel, a masonic hall, a Christian and Methodist Church, Schoolhouse, and Dr. Tom Dunn. Owners of the store in the 1880's were George Dye, Owen Merry and Pap Emmerson.

Clarence and Leona Poynter bought the store in the late 1940's and 2 years later sold the store to Clare Nave. In 1957 they again bought the store. Clarence died in 1967 and Leona stayed there until 1969. Roy and Lucille Endebrock ran the store until about 1972 when it closed. They converted it into living quarters and later it was rented out, until being bought by Richard Poe who converted the building into 3 apartments.