The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-06-05
SOMERSET
TlG Great Fire Of May 9, 1872
A Detailed Description of the Dis
aster.
From the Cumberland Daily News

From the Cumberland Daily News
Somerset. is the county seat of Som
crsct county, Pa. 1t is very oil,
town, having been settled more thar
a century ago. 1t is located near tn,
center of the county, in the midst o
Il good agricultural and grazing re
glen, the surrounding country, fol
miles in extent, being the most valu
able part of the county, with, per.
haps, the exception of the Meyers
Mills region. The town is eligibly
situated upon a regularly sloping hill
nearly mile across either way. The
main or business portion of the town,
was immediately about the top or
central part Of the hill, and consist
cd chiefly Of good brick buildings,
two or three stories in heighth. The
business Of the place was mostly of a
mercantile nature, although there
were several wagon shops, foundry
and a few other workshops. The
law business of the county has al
ways been extensive, and the legal
profession is well and ably represent,
ed in Somerset.
The town is distant from Cumber.
land by the old stage road about
thirty-eight miles, and by rail fifty-six
miles Since the construction of the
Pittsburgh 4 Connellsville Railroad
and the Somerset branch road from
lis junction with the former road at
Mineral Point (eight miles south OF
SomerScr, the old wagon road is al.
most deserted, and the rafting, lum.
bcring stage-coaeh that for half Gen.
tury connected our town with Som
erset, is now no more and the iron
horse swiftly conveys passengers and
mails between the two points.
The population of Somerset at the
last census was about twelve hundred
souls. The inhabitants are noted for
their industry, intelligence and hos
pitality. A majority Of its citizens
were considered "well OFF, with this
worlds comforts and possessions; and
being thus able, their homes were
well furnished with the luxuries and
convenicnces that wealth could af-
ford, and few pleasanter and hand
somer towns than Somerset lately
was are to be found in this country.
But the fair and much loved place
was doomed to the devastating blight
Of the fire demon, which, in passing
over It's fairest proportions, moved a
swathe of desolation and ruin, leav-
ing nothing but ashes and blackened
walls to tell where once stood the
busy mart-the comfortable homes
the towering churches.
In the history of Somerset, for all
future time, Thursday, the 9Th day
of May, 1871, will be recorded as the
date of the most memorable event
connected with the town. On that
beautiful, bright spring morning, the
sun arose in splendor, and the balmy
air, ladened with the perfume of the
many blooming flowers and blossom
ing trees, waited its sweet fragrance
through the open easements, afford
ing the ccntented inhabitants all the
delights enjoyable on that delicious
May morn. How far from thought,
and how near 10 reality, was that
mornings repast as the family break
fast table the last ever to be enjoyed
in the dwellings that had so long shell
tered the happy inmates-homes en-
deared to them by childhood's asso-
Citations and manhood's ties-roofs
under which they had been born, and
where they hoped to spend all their
days on earth. Fair Somerset at that
hour, as its towering church spires
glittered in the mornings sun, pre-
sented a picture of beauty and con-
tentmcnt, and as its busy inmates
wen! about their daily occupations in
their usual cheerful manner, the scene
WAS complete, and all that could be-
desired.
Towards noon a warm southwest
wind began TO blow, but farther than
raising dust within the streets, it dis
commoded nobody, and the afternoon
drew on as pleasantly as the morning
had passed. Whilst persons were
engaged in their usual quiet way,
and least of all not thinking Of any