Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-06-15
Great Fire in Worcester !!
OF PROPERTY DESTROYED.
1000 MEN THROWN OUT OF EMPLOY,
100000 WORTH

O@0->N - N%AS
Southeast corner of the extensive block of
brick buildings, belonging to VIM. I. Mer-
rifeld, Esq, and occupying three sides of the
entire square, bounded on the east by Union
street. on the north by Exchange street, and
on the west by Cypress street. The buildings
were four stories in height, built of brick, and
if placed in a continuous line, would measure
nine hundred feet. The fire was discovered
in room in the 4th story of the southwest
corner, occupied by Hood, Battelle, s.
Co., manufacturers of sewing machines.
The hands employed about the building had
mostly gone to dinner, and the fire was first
discovered by Messrs. Couch & Sanborn, who
were just quitting work in the room under
meath. They fastened up stairs, and found a
carpenters bench, and aquantity of shavings
lying upon the floor, in flames. A few buck
cts of water at that time would have sufficed
to extinguish the fire, but that was not to be
had, and in less than ten minutes the whole
Of the upper story of that wing was in flames.
The fremen were already on the ground, and,
though water was abundant, the great height
Of the building, and the combustible nature of
its contents, rendered their almost super-hu-
man efforts to check the progress of the fire
Of no avail.
The flames soon extended to long row of
sheds and wooden shops, in the court between
the West and East wings of the building,
and thence their progress was uninterrupted
until the whole of the main building was on
fire. 1t was impossible for the Fire Depart
ment, with all the help that citizens could
render, to operate to much advantage, owing
to the extent of ground embraced in the con-
Aagration, for, while they were busily at work
in staying its progress in one direction,
the fire would break out upon contigu-
Gus buildings, in other directions. The
scene presented at this time was awfully
grand, and will never be forgotten by those
who witnessedit. 1t was thought, at one time,
that the fire could be prevented from cross
ing Union street, and great efforts were made
by the fremen and citizens to stay its pro-
100 Al sAAAS AAACCttOAt WuCaA A4dcS oAOC
of Merrifeld's Building was fairly on fire the
iremen were unable to withstand the hest,
and in few minutes the large three story
wooden building, occupied in the basement
story by Thayer, Houghton, & Co., and in the
other stories by the extensive pistol manufac-
tory Of Allen & Thurber, was mass Of
flames. Thence the flames extended east
ward to several other buildings in the rear,
owned and occupied by Allen Thurber, and
to the counting room and Lumber yard Of
John Gates. Mr.. Gates stock of lumber was
quite large, and scarcely anything was saved.
Meantime the flames had crossed Cypress
street on the West, and two two-story wood
en- houses on the opposite side, occupied by
some six or eight families, were entirely con-
sumed with most of the furniture contained
in them. The barn of the American House
also caught fire upon the roof, but it was ex-
tinguished by men with buckets Of water
Several other buildings in that vicinity were
also on fire, but were saved in the same way.
During this time, the fire was also extending
North, and it soon crossed Exchange street,
and communicated to the wooden buildings
upon the opposite side. The livery stable oc-
cupied by N. 7. Bemis, was very coon on fire.
and the flames spread to the adjacent build
ings on each side. The first building east of
Mr.. Bemis, was occupied by Aaron Sampson,
wheelwright, most of his stock was saved, but
the building was total loss. The next build
ing east, was Zion's Chapel, "a two story wood
enbuilding, the basement Of which was occu-
pied by M; NJ. Warner, as restorator, and the
second story by the Third Methodist Society,
(colored,) by whom the building was owned.
This was also total loss. Next eastwardly
to the chapel, thnsa-ne were communicated
to Howard Holden's grist mill, which was en-
tirelp consumed. The upper story was occu-
pied by VIM. J.White, coffee burner Some of
the stock was saved in damaged condition.
Merrifeld's counting room, and several me-
chanic's shops in the same building, next fell
a prey to the deyouring element, and then the
flames crossed Union street at this point, as
they had done previously at the upper end of
the street. John Gates's Grocery store, at the
nort-east corner Of Exchange and Union sts.,
was soon on fire. and thence the flames ex-
tended to the large Furniture manufactory of
Taber 8 Chollar. This building was owned
by Hon. Isaac Davis Messrs. Taber & Choliar
had heavy stock of furniture stored in the
building, only small part of which was saved.
Opposite to the grocery store and furniture
mandatory above named, and between that
aud Allen Z Thurber's pistol factory, were
two other large buildings. The one on the
southeast corner Of Exchange and Union
Streets was built Of stone and brick, and was
occupied. in the lower story, by G. Whitcomb
3 Co.. extensive manufactures Of maehinists'
tools. Their stock was large. and their loss
is very heavy.
The upper stories were occupied by Messrs.
Hovey 6 Lazell, manufacturers of straw cut
tsrs. They had large amount of their goods
in store, and their loss, which is very large. is
only partially covered By. insurance. Adjacent
to these buildings, ON tbs East, was Mern-
deld's saw-naill, and this was consumed, with
squsutity Of valuable lumber. 3
The fire was prevented from extending
further on the East, by the Mill Brook, aad
tbs high embankment upor the railroad. -
Tbs iafse wood shed Of the Nashua Railroad.
upon the top Of the embankment was, how
ever tqFn down as precautionary measure
against 'theis spread Of The aames.
On the westerly side Of Cypress street. in