USA > Maine > Waldo County > Belfast > History of the city of Belfast in the state of Maine v.I, 1770-1875 > Part 66
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1829, Dec. 30. A new, unfinished, and unoccupied house, be- longing to Shepherd B. Blanchard, in the eastwardly section of the
1 Now Lewis's, occupied by Pitcher & Gorham.
2 Waldo Democrat.
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
town, was consumed at an early hour in the morning. The esti- . mated loss was one thousand dollars.
1830, Jan. 27. The dwelling-house of Nicholas Jefferds, near the Head of the Tide, was burnt. Loss, about four hundred dollars.
1830, July 19. At about ten o'clock Sunday evening, a large two-story house belonging to Nathaniel Patterson, opposite the village, on the east side of the river, was destroyed. No insurance. Loss on house and furniture serious.
1831, Dec. 8. A meeting of the fire-wards was held, and duties assigned to each in case of fire.
1831, Dec. 26. The schooner "Daniel and James," of St. George, lying at the wharf of James P. White, was discovered to be on fire in the evening, during a snow-storm. Before the flames were subdued, the cabin was nearly burnt, and one man, who was asleep, had a narrow escape.
1832, March 19. A fire destroyed the house of. Jonathan Knowles, in the southern part of the town. Three children, the oldest only four years of age, were alone in the house, and escaped uninjured.
1833, April 16. The Cochran saw-mill, at the Head of the Tide, took fire by friction, and was burnt.
1834, Jan. 12. At two o'clock in the morning, the toll-house, at the east end of the lower bridge, was burnt.
1834, Jan. 22. At ten o'clock in the forenoon, a fire broke out in a wooden building on Main Street, which stood upon the ground now covered by store No. 21, opposite the American House, occupied by John Dorr, publisher of the " Workingmen's Advocate." The fire originated from a defective chimney, and the upper portion was soon in flames, which communicated to the contiguous building, containing the " Republican Journal " office 1 and the leather store of Nathaniel Frost. The contents of both buildings were saved in a damaged condition. In its removal, the printing press of the " Journal" was broken, and the types of both establishments were knocked into pi. The buildings 2 were owned by Joseph Williamson, and were uninsured. At the time of the fire, the high wind threatened to produce a serious conflagration.
1 The " Journal " office was temporarily removed to "Mechanics' Row," which now forms a portion of the Belfast Livery Company's stable, on High Street. Mr. Dorr found new quarters in the old " Babel," on Main Street.
2 During the following season, the brick stores. of John S. Caldwell and Henry H. Forbes were built on the spot, and five years later those of Benjamin F. Wells and the heirs of Timothy Thorndike.
717
FIRES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.
1836, Jan. 14. At eight o'clock in the evening, the blacksmith's shop of R. W. Quimby and R. M. Monroe, on Range Street, was burnt. Loss, five hundred dollars.
1836, Oct. 25. A one-story double house on the Judge Read farm, owned by Colonel Philip Morrill, was totally destroyed. It was one of the oldest frame structures in town.
1839, Jan. 19. The shoemaker's shop of George Durham, on the east side of the river, was burnt, and with it two hundred dollars' worth of leather.
1839, Sept. 30. A barn and shed owned by Jonathan Dur- ham1 were set on fire in the night-time, and destroyed, with their contents.
1839, Nov. 4. The old " Quaker house," situated on the upper bridge road, opposite the residence of Captain Eben Peirce, was burnt. Loss trifling.
1840, Feb. 25. The house of Simon Knowles, near Belmont, was burnt, with its contents.
1840, June 18. At midnight, the barn and shed of Captain Benjamin Linniken, on the upper bridge road, were destroyed. The house was saved by great exertions.
1840, June 27. During a rain-storm, at one o'clock A.M., an unoccupied house at the corner of Main Street and Waldo Avenue, owned by John Doyle, was burnt. Insured.
1840, Sept. 3. A barn situated near the old muster-field, on the Salmond farm, was destroyed.
1840, Oct. 11. Another barn, on the farm of Jonathan Dur- ham, was set on fire and consumed. All the fires which occurred this year, except the first one, were supposed to have been caused by incendiaries.
1842. The house of Mr. Ellis, near the Wescott stream, was destroyed.
1842. George Durham's house and barn, situate on the Stanley road, about three-fourths of a mile from the village, were burnt. The fire was the work of an incendiary.
1842, Dec. 17. At half-past ten o'clock in the evening, the driver of the Thomaston stage discovered the Belfast Academy to be on fire. The flames had not made much progress when the alarm was given, but a scarcity of water and a want of suitable fire apparatus rendered all attempts to save the building ineffectual.
1 These buildings were on the farm now owned by William N. Hall, on the Augusta road.
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
The academy had been removed from its old site, and thoroughly repaired in 1840, at an expense of eighteen hundred dollars. The estimated loss was three thousand dollars, and no insurance. The school at the time was under the instruction of Mr. George W. Field, and was in a flourishing condition. It was supposed that the fire originated from hot ashes deposited in a wooden vessel, and left in the second story.
1843, July 12. A small house and shop occupied by Abiather Smith, near the jail, were burnt. Loss, two hundred dollars.
1843, July 28. The tannery of Philip R. Southwick, between City Point and the Head of the Tide, took fire in the night, and. with a large quantity of hides and leather was destroyed. Loss, eight thousand dollars.
1843, Dec. 2. A barn at the upper bridge, owned by Colonel Watson Berry, and containing sixteen tons of hay, was burnt early in the evening.
The necessity of additional protection against the ravages of fire began to impress the inhabitants of the village during the winter ; and on the 11th of December, at a town meeting called at the request of several prominent citizens, two thousand dol- lars were voted for an additional engine and for other appa- ratus. Major Timothy Chase was chosen an agent to proceed to Boston, and to make the purchase. He performed the duties of his mission by procuring of Messrs. W. C. Hunniman & Co. the suction-engine afterwards called the Hydrant," which is still in use. The new machine arrived Jan. 16, 1844; and a company of sixty young men was immediately formed for her.2 In
1 The following is a copy of the bill paid for her : -
1 Suction Fire Engine $690.00
1 Hose Carriage 45.00
400 feet Leading Hose 240.00
8 prs. Couplings 28.00
1 Flexible Pipe and fittings . 12.00
1 pr. Torches .
2.50
$1,017.50
2 The first officers were : -
STEPHEN B. DAY, Foreman.
C. B. MERRILL, Assistant Foreman.
JOHN W. WHITE,
Jos. BEAN, 2d, Directors.
BENJ. GRIFFIN,
M. C. HAZELTINE, Clerk.
NATH'L MERRILL, Foreman Leading Hose. J. DENNETT, Jr., Assistant Foreman Hose.
JOSIAH AMES, Jr., Foreman Suction Hose. CHARLES GILES, Assistant Foreman Hose. JOSIAH HALL, Jr., and JOHN S. CALD- WELL, Hosemen.
WM. BECKETT and D. MURCH, Polemen. A. D. CHASE and S. A. MOULTON, Torch- men.
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FIRES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.
the eastern section of the town, a strong hostility existed against the expenditure of so large a sum for the benefit, as was alleged, of the village alone. A public meeting was held, and resolutions aiming at repudiation were passed. At the spring town meeting, an article in the warrant, " To see if the town will sell the new engine and town clock, inserted at the request of Robert Patter- son, 5th, and others," was negatived by a decided vote, and oppo- sition ceased.
1844, March 10. Early in the morning, a two-story block of three stores, owned by the late Rufus B. Allyn, which was situated on the site of the Granite Block on Main Street, and occupied by Benjamin Hazeltine and A. N. Noyes, was partially burnt. Mr. Allyn had an office in the second story ; and the fire was caused by John Green, a young man formerly employed by Mr. Allyn. He confessed his guilt, and stated that his object was plunder. The safe was found to have been tampered with, but not forced. Green received a sentence of five years in the State prison.
1844, July 9. At midnight, a house on Bridge Street, then recently occupied by Lieutenant Asa Day, was burnt.
1844, July 26. An old barn on Bridge Street, belonging to Mrs. Apollos Alden, was burnt, the work of an incendiary. It was one of the buildings occupied by the British in 1814, when they established a guard at the end of the east bridge.
During the summer, two wooden engine-houses were erected : one for the Vigilance, on Church Street, where the store of A. D. French now stands ; and another for the Hydrant, on Miller Street, on the lot now occupied by the Methodist Church. The former now stands on Market Street, below High Street : the latter was removed to Spring Street, in 1869. Two reservoirs, the first in town, were built, - one at the head of Main Street, and the other on the Common. In connection with the former, a granite tub was placed in the square for supplying water to horses and cattle, being supplied from a spring ahove. It now occupies a place ncar Peirce's Block.
1845, April 23. A joiner's shop on Peirce Street, occupied by Henry Carlton, was much injured by fire.
1845, April 26. A barn on the eastern side of the river was burnt.
1845, May 26. An unoccupied building near Rolerson's (now Carter & Co.'s) ship-yard, erected by F. A. Lewis, in 1837, for an iron foundery, was set on fire and destroyed. The schooner
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
"Helen McLeod," then nearly ready for launching, was saved with some difficulty.
1846, March 3. At one o'clock P.M., a fire broke out in the Richard Holt house, near the east end of the bridge, occupied for storing oakum, which was partially consumed. Loss, about one thousand dollars.
1846, March 5. A small unoccupied house on Bridge Street, formerly occupied by William Murch, was burnt.
1846, March 20. A wooden building on the east side of Church Street, where the present brick block stands, and of the same dimensions, was destroyed. It was occupied by J. C. Moore & Co., A. Richards, and by the Belfast Division of the Sons of Temperance. The building was owned by Joseph Williamson, who had an insurance of eight hundred dollars. The goods were also insured. A small stable in the rear was also burnt, and the adjoining stores on Main Street repeatedly took fire. The whole loss of property exceeded seven thousand dollars.
1846, June 5. A wooden building in the ship-yard of Messrs. John Peirce & Co., with the materials for a vessel, were burnt. Loss, five hundred dollars.
1846, July 9. Amory Engine Company No. 4, of Bangor, and Bagaduce Company No. 2, with their respective machines, arrived by the steamer " Tarratine," and were received by the Hydrant Company. An informal trial of the three engines was had on the Common. After a dinner at the Phoenix House, a trial between the Amory and Hydrant took place. Both companies claimed the victory.
1846, Sept. 18. A dwelling-house formerly occupied hy Paoli Hewes, and owned by John S. Kimball, situated on " the Beach," or Dock Square, with an adjoining workshop owned by Daniel Merrill, were entirely destroyed.
1846, Oct. 16. The barn of Colonel Watson Berry, at the upper bridge, took fire in the evening. Aided by a south-west wind, the flames spread to his house, and to the house and barn occupied by Josiah S. Witherell, all of which were consumed, with a portion of their contents. The arrival of the engines only pre- vented a more serious conflagration. The whole loss exceeded twenty-five hundred dollars. Colonel Berry had an insurance of seven hundred dollars.
1846, Oct. 24. At three o'clock in the morning, the old "Babel " on Main Street, and a small store adjoining, occupied hy Luther
721
FIRES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Coombs; were discovered to be on fire, and with the dwelling- house of James Cook were destroyed. The progress of the flames was arrested by demolishing a building owned by Benjamin Hazeltine, occupied by John Simpson. Hersey & Wilder, tin- plate workers, William Quimby, provision-dealer, and William Tilden, painter, occupied the Babel, which was insured for nine hundred dollars. The whole loss was estimated at four thousand dollars. By great exertion, the building on the corner of High Street was saved.1
1847, Sept. 10. A small barn on the east side of the river, owned by Mr. French, was burnt.
1847, Dec. 7. A block-maker's shop at the foot of Main Street, occupied by Nathaniel Chapman, was, with its contents, partially destroyed.
1848, May 1. A small house, over the jail-hill, was consumed.
1848, Aug. 21. Intelligence that a destructive fire was raging at Castine, having been conveyed by steamboat, the Hydrant Company with their engine immediately started in a schooner, and reached the scene of disaster in one hour and a half, the dis- tance being twelve miles.
1848, Nov. 24. The barn and ell part of the house owned by Captain Isaac Smalley, on Waldo Avenue, were consumed. The main building was saved by the Fire Department.
1849, Feb. 11. A large workshop, with moulds, tools, &c., in the ship-yard of S. C. Nickerson, at the upper bridge, was burnt.
1849, Feb. 13. At midnight, a house on Federal Street, owned by Doctor Cass, was destroyed. The weather was cold, and some of the occupants froze their feet.
1849, June 15. A house on the eastern side of the river, occupied by Bancroft Wyman, was burnt.
1849, Aug. 16. A small building in H. E. Carter's ship-yard was burnt.
1849, Sept. 8. For reasons given in a published statement, the members of the Vigilance Company voted to dissolve their organ- ization, and to deliver their apparatus to the selectmen.
1849, Oct. 27. An unoccupied house owned by Mr. Gordon, of New York, was consumed. It stood on Bridge Street, and the former tenants were of dubious character.
1850, Jan. 5. Two wooden buildings at the corner of Main
1 These buildings were replaced the next season by substantial brick blocks, and Main Street was changed to its present width.
46
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
and High Streets, owned by J. Y. McClintock, were burnt. The occupants were Messrs. Edwards & Lennan, clothing-dealers, and Noah G. Clark & Robert T. Thomas, saloon-keepers. The whole loss was five thousand dollars, none of which was protected by insurance, although Edwards & Lennan had a policy in a fraud- ulent company.
1850, March 5. Store numbered 12, on Phoenix Row, oc- cupied by George W. Moulton, took fire under suspicious cir- cumstances, and was much injured.
1850, March 20. A small house on Cobbett's Lane, now Vine Street, owned by Joseph McDonald, and occupied by John G. Small, was set on fire at midnight, and destroyed.
1850, April 19. A barn in the rear of Mrs. Abigail Cunning- ham's house, on High Street, was burnt.
1850, April 27. The "Farmer's Inn," at the foot of Main Street, formerly the bake-house of Herbert R. Sargent, was de- stroyed. It was owned by H. H. Johnson, who had an insurance of four hundred dollars. The whole loss on house and furniture was estimated at seventeen hundred dollars.
1850, May 23. A barn on the Lincolnville road, containing twenty-five tons of hay, both owned by Dr. Hollis Monroe, was burnt. Loss, five hundred dollars.
During the year ending May 1, the number of fires in town was eight, and the value of property destroyed was nine thousand five hundred dollars.
1851, June 24. At eleven o'clock P.M., a three-story brick building on Front Street, erected in 1849, for the Belfast Foundery and Manufacturing Company, took fire, and, with a dwelling-house and small shop in the rear, was entirely consumed. The main building was one of the most spacious in town, and, including ma- chinery, cost over twenty thousand dollars. The basement was occupied for the steam-engine and a brass foundery. The second story contained a grist-mill, a wood and iron planing-machine, and several turning-lathes. The sash and blind factory of Mr. Henry Ames, and the pump and block establishment of Mr. Silas M. Fuller, occupied the third story. The loss of the former in machinery was fifteen hundred dollars, and of the latter about one thousand dollars. There was also other machinery, be- longing to the company, in this part of the building. In the fourth story was the sail-loft of Mr. Joseph Dennett, Jr. The dwelling-house was owned by Mr. Samuel Sweetser, and oc-
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FIRES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.
cupied by three families. Loss, about six hundred dollars. The worst feature of this fire was that no insurance existed on any of the property destroyed. A safe containing valuable books and papers escaped injury. The fire originated about the boiler.
1851, June 29. A blacksmith's shop and its contents, in the rear of the stable of the old Farmer's Inn, were burnt. The building was owned by William Frederick.
1851, Oct. 16. The Belfast Hotel, now the Phoenix House, owned and occupied by Josiah N. White, was damaged by fire to the amount of three hundred and eighty dollars.
1852, Jan. 1. Early in the morning, a fire was discovered in the building owned by Jonathan Durham, near the ship-yard of C. P. Carter & Co., at the foot {{ Miller Street, and occupied by the latter as a workshop. Being filled with combustible material, the building and contents were entirely consumed. The whole loss was fifteen hundred dollars. A small house owned by Aaron Eaton was also burnt.
Some circumstances connected with this fire indicated that it was caused by an incendiary, and the whole community was on the alert to discover the perpetrators of the crime. At a town meet- ing on the 14th, attended by three hundred and fifty persons, the selectmen were authorized to give a sum, not exceeding one thou- sand dollars, for the detection of incendiaries,1 and immediately offered a reward of five hundred dollars to that end. The suspected parties were never brought to justice.
1852, March 11. The house of Mrs. A. D. Field was slightly damaged by an accidental fire, which was first discovered in a closet in the upper story.
1852, May 7. The old Kelsey house, on the east side of the river, was burnt.
1852, Aug. 14. The buildings occupied by David S. Whittaker, on the upper bridge road, took fire at midnight. The house was saved, but the barn and ell were destroyed.
1852, Ang. 19. Neptune Engine Company No. 3, of Waltham, Mass., arrived, and returned by steamer "Governor," on the following morning. They were entertained by Hydrant Engine Company No. 2, and were quartered at the American House.
1852, Aug. 30. Early in the morning, during a violent storm, the house of Libbeus T. Cottrill, on Cobbett's Lane, took fire from a defective chimney, and was consumed.
1 Town records.
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
1852, Sept. 9. A levee was given by the ladies to Hydrant Engine Company, at City Hall, on the occasion of presenting a banner, which was painted by Mr. Theodore N. Phillips. The donation address was made by Miss Helen A. Upton, and responded to by Captain Calvin Hervey. On the following morning, the com- pany started on an excursion to Portland and Biddeford.
1852, Sept. 13. At sunset, the steam factory of D. Howard, on High Street, now occupied by the Belfast Livery Company, was seriously damaged.
1853, July 8. The house, barn, and workshop of Abiel R. Peirce, situated on a cross road leading to the Lincolnville road, was destroyed by fire, which caught on the roof. Loss, twelve hundred dollars, which was nearly covered by insurance.
1853, Aug. 14. An unfinished house owned by John J. Mahoney, on the Northport road, was consumed, together with the fur- niture. Loss, eight hundred dollars. Insured for five hundred dollars.
1853, Aug. 25. A new oakum factory on Goose River, owned by Edwin C. Kimball, was destroyed. Loss, five thousand dollars, and no insurance.
1853, Sept. 8. The Pioneer Engine Company No. 1, of Bidde- ford, commanded by Captain James Smith, arrived by steamer " Daniel Webster," and were escorted to the American House by Hydrant Company No. 2. During the forenoon, both companies marched through the principal streets, accompanied by the Saco and Bangor brass bands. At two o'clock, a dinner was given at Peirce's Hall, at which speeches were made by the firemen and invited guests. A ball terminated the festivities, and the Pioneers returned on the following day.
1854, July 4. While the firemen were enjoying a dinner at the American House, a fire broke out at the Board Landing, en- dangering several houses and much property. The Hydrant Com- pany immediately went to the rescue, and after three hours' hard work suppressed the flames.
1854, Aug. 16. Accompanied by Clarke's Bangor Brass Band, the Hydrant Company left for Biddeford, on a pleasure excursion.
1854, Sept. 12. The brig " Selah," owned by Robert Patterson, from Pictou, with a cargo of coal, was damaged by fire to the amount of two thousand dollars. The sails and running rigging were stripped off to save them.
1854, Oct. Engine Company No. 1 contributed twenty-five dollars towards the Washington National Monument.
1 1
725
FIRES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.
1854, Dec. 29. At midnight, a fire broke out in a wooden building, known as the old Nesmith store, at the corner of Main and High Streets, occupied by Henry H. Haas, clothing-dealer, Nathaniel Wiggin, as a boot and shoe store, and Daniel Howard, grocer. The building was entirely destroyed, together with one adjoining, occupied by J. C. Thompson, furniture-dealer. The old Cunningham Hotel shared a similar fate. The total loss was ten thousand dollars.
1855, April 16. At noon, a storehouse on the wharf of J. Dur- ham, 2d, on the east side of the river, containing paper stock belonging to George F. White & Co., was burnt. Loss, six thou- sand dollars, and no insurance.
1855, July 29. The barn of Cyrus Patterson, on the east side, valued at three hundred dollars, was destroyed before the engines could reach the spot.
1855, Oct. 18. Two blacksmiths' shops, and another small building at the foot of Main Street, were burnt. Loss, five hun- dred dollars.
1856, April 26. Early in the morning, the house of Cyrus Pat- terson, on the east side, was burnt.
1856, June 1. The house of Captain Doty L. Blake, on the jail- hill, was destroyed.
1856, Sept. 8. A barn on the Lincolnville road, belonging to Josiah N. White, with its contents of hay, was burnt. Loss, seven hundred dollars.
1856, Nov. 10. An unoccupied house on Bridge Street, owned by George G. Taylor, was burnt. It was insured for three hun- dred dollars.
1857, Dec. 18. The Hydrant Engine Company gave a ban- quet to their brethren of Vigilance No. 1, at Peirce's Hall.
1858, May 31. A house on the east side of the river, near the upper bridge, recently built by Horatio Spicer, was burnt. Loss, fifteen hundred dollars. Insured for seven hundred dollars. The old Ryan house, at the north, took fire from cinders, and was con- sumed.
1859, Nov. 18. An unoccupied house near Little River bridge, owned by B. Brown and B. T. Ewell, was burnt.
1860, April 19. The house at the corner of Church and Spring Streets, owned by Dr. Calvin Moore, was much damaged by fire.
1860, May 9. At three o'clock A. M., the house of Harrison Hayford, on the Belmont road, was burnt. Loss partially cov- ered by insurance.
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HISTORY OF BELFAST.
1860, Dec. 16. A store owned by Daniel McFarland, at the foot of Main Street, with a portion of his stock, was consumed. Loss, eight hundred dollars. Insured.
1861, Jan. 19. The grist-mill of Hiram E. Peirce, on Goose River, was damaged by fire, the running gear being nearly destroyed.
1861, April 2. The house of Amaziah D. Blake, over the jail- hill, was injured by a fire, which was with difficulty extinguished.
1861, Aug. 2. The house, barn, and furniture of Thomas A. Beckwith, at the Head of the Tide, were burnt. Loss, fifteen hun- dred dollars. No insurance.
1865, Sept. 23. A building on Dock Square, owned by S. S. Lewis, and occupied as a carpenter's shop, was burnt.
1865, Oct. 12. At about half-past ten o'clock in the evening, a boat-shop, occupied by James C. Lewis, situated on the old com- mon, where the railroad freight depot now stands, was discovered to be on fire. The weather was clear, with a moderate breeze blow- ing from the north. Before a general alarm could be given, the building was enveloped in flames, which speedily extended to storehouses in the rear containing hay, and to those of S. S. Lewis on the Kimball Wharf. The tide was low, and the reser- voirs were dry. To these disadvantages was added the inefficiency of our fire apparatus; only one engine, the Hydrant, being fit for use. The other, the Vigilance, was disabled, and was not taken out. Crossing Common Street, the fire consumed the Thompson and Beckett houses on the right, and the Cremer house at the corner, and commenced its march np Main Street, both sides of which were soon ignited, scattering sparks and burning shingles through the whole southerly portion of the city. An attempt to arrest its progress by demolishing some of the build- ings on Pleasant Street proved unavailing; and the store of L. A. Knowlton, on the site of the old Farmer's Inn, together with the stores and houses beyond, between Front and Cross Streets, were soon in a blaze. Thence, the flames spread on, consuming every thing on Federal Street and on Cross Street, as far as Spring Street, carrying all before them to the Whittier Block, on Main Street, and on both sides of Spring Street to McClintock's brick tenements. Crossing to Miller Street, all the houses on the northern side up to that now occupied by Simeon Staples were destroyed. On the northern side of Main Street, from the shore to Washington Street, not a building was saved. With great exertions, aided by the Searsport fire-engine, which arrived in
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