Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-06-12
THE MANSION HOUSE FIRE.
Further Particulars.-History OF the
uOuse.-Inridents, etc.

There are no material alterations to be made in
our previous account of the FIRE yesterday morn
ing. The loss is as stated, about go 600, aud the
insurance $4,000.
| 1t was fortunate that so clearly and capacious
places as the court house and jail yards were
found for the reception of the furniture and bed
ding from the Mansion House; otherwise il must
have been greatly damaged. Yesterday Mr..
| Thayei and family were engaged in taking ac-
count of stock" and removing their household
goods to the vacant school house on Chapel street.
portion of the goods being sent up to the "Davis
farm" owned by Mr.. Thaycr, where he and his
family will make their home.
A large crowd of boys and others were gath
cred about the ruins all day yesterday, pokiog
| over the dying embcrs, and satisfying their curl
| osity as to what remained after the sad havoc of
the destroying element. The skeletons of the
poor horses that lost their lives in the fire. stlsc
cd good deal Of attention.
We can but lament the loss OF the noble elm
and maple shade trees that stood in front of Ken
nebec Jail and also the lively Young trees in front
of Capt. McLaughlin's. They were utterly ruined.
Their luxuriant foliage was shield against which
beat the angry pillows of fire. Their death was
the salvation of the property that they had adorned
and beautifed.
The southerly end of Concert Hall block was
burnt through in two or three places, and the en-
tire end of the building is blsckened AMI charrcd.
rne damage, some two three hundred dollars,
Is covered by insurance. Tue water did but little
injury to the hall story, and none OF any conse-
quence to the store of Woods & Davis. The ten.
ment house next west. owned as is Concert Hall
block, by Mr.. All Staples. was also badly scorched.
The front of Capt. McLaugalin's house was dis
colored by the intense heat hi, loss is fully COW
ored by insurance. The families throughout the
neighborhood had their furniture and household
goods all packed up, ready for sudden move.
As we said yesterday, the most of the heroic
work OF the frcnen was done in this narrow
Court street, with the high burning building tow
ering above them. With less heroism, the square
clear through to Winthrop street, must have been
swept. No heroes Of the battle field deserve more
honor than these noble fellows on the leading hose
of the Cushnoc and FREELY steamers, and also
the hand engines, who for more than an hour
were 10 imminent peril, and enduring more than
it seemed possible for human beings to endure.
This the first fire under the administration of
the new Chief Engineer of the Department, Capt.
W. L. Leighton, and it was managed with con-
summste skill and foresight.
By the burning of the Mansion House, one of
the old landmarks of the city has been removed
1t has history as old as the town itself. Previ-
Gus to 1917 it was occupied as dwelling house by
the father of the late Judge Weston. 1t was an
old fashioned two story house, and in 1917 was
purchased and converted into public house by
Orphan {. Plummer, who was the proprietor of
the first "Mansi ion House." which began opera
tons that year. Since that time it has passed
through various Transformations and change of
ownership and proprietors. We remember the ad-
mnstratious of Messrs. Scruton, Holmes and
others. In 1864 the house was enlarged and great
y improved in its appearance AMI purchased By W.
NJ. Thayer, who continued its proprietor until
1874, when he sold to w. E. Hadley whose term
as landlord was about year, when Mr.. Thayer
returned to the Mansion and remained its proprie.
tor until the old and popular resort went up in a
chariot OF fire.
What is to be done with the vacant lot is in.
CURED on every hani. Augusta will hardly seem
like the same city, without mansion House." q
homelike, hospitable place for the entertain
ment Of man and best. Two hotels ought to be
well sustained State street, and better site for
such purpose could not be selected than this.
We trust that before snow flies a new Mansion
may rise from the ruins of the old.