Major Fires of Southbridge

Southbridge Main Street "Edwards Block", showing remnant of fire at right (~1880's)
See the Above in 'Then and now"

Learn about the history of the white wooden buidling at the left (Columbian Building)

Fire of November 1863

The following list was from Souvenir of Southbridge 1898
On page 65   Fires (Transcribed by Margaret Morrissey - Adult Services Librarian at Jacob Edwards Library
 

> In April ’59 the Edwards house barn was burned and 43 horses were burned to death.
Clemence’s old box shop on West street burned in November 1857.

> Paige’s mill destroyed by fire May 23, 1870

> Hamilton Woolen Co.’s boarding house barn burned Dec. 31, 1860.  There was 28 horses burned to death
> St. Mary’s parochial residence burned Jan. 14, 1872

>Dresser Opera House burned Dec. 27, 1874

> Hamilton Woolen Co’s gas house blew up Aug. 22 1868.  This was, perhaps, the most fatal casualty the town ever had, five lives were lost and two others seriously injured.  Those who were killed:- Martin White, John Devoy, Patrick Brogan, Michael Larochelle, John Brown.  Those injured:- Lucian Clemence, Hamilton Holmes.Columbian mill burned Aug. 9, 1884

> Skating Rink destroyed by fire July 7, 1886

> Hamilton Woolen Co;s shoddy mill burned March 12, 1890

January 13, 1927 Blanchard Block Strand Theatre Fire (Corner of Elm and Main)
Photo courtesy of Jacob Edwards Library Digital Treasures

See the Above in 'Then and now"
 

Fire of 1935 at Weld and Becks
 
 

Photos of Dec 14, 1949 Fire next to the Stand. Few photos exist of the Strand Entrance, shown here in the 29-Dec-1949 AO News
 
 

Maci Fire of 1971

The Globe Fire of  April 16, 1987Rev Sept, 2009
 
 

You tube video of April 16, 1987 Fire - Submitted by Dave Stevens
 
 

"Heartbreak Hotel" Fire on Marcy Street in the Mid 1990's -
Photos courtesy of the Southbridge Fire Department

St. Mary's School Fire of Dec 19, 1999
 

From the AO News of 1952, the St. Mary's School which was destroyed by fire in 1999.

Wood Recycling Fire of July 26, 2002
 

Beck Grain Fire of Jan 6, 2003
 

Dramatic March 12th, 2008 image of suspected arson fire on Cliff St
Photo by Ian Dietrich -  between 3 and 4 a.m. on Wednesday, March 12

January 17, 2009 photo by Dick Whitney
 

North St  fire Damage- February 19, 2009 photo by Dick Whitney

Pat Taylor photos taken in Oct 2009
in Johnson City, TN in the Firehouse Restaurant

Feel free to contact me (Dick Whitney)