Great Boston Fire of 1872 - Boston, MA - Famous Fires on Waymarking.com

A plaque installed at the corner of Milk Street and Devonshire Street commemorates the worst fire in Boston's history, which happened on November 9-10, 1872. The plaque reads:

"This tablet placed here by the Bostonian Society commemorates the Great Fire of November. 9-10 - 1872, which beginning at the south-easterly corner of Summer and Kingston Streets extending over an area of sixty acres destroyed within the business centre of the city property to the value of more than sixty million dollars and was arrested in its north-easterly progress at this point. The mutilated stones of this building also record that event."

The fire also consumed 776 buildings and caused the deaths of at least 20 people. The fire began in the basement of a commercial warehouse at 83—87 Summer Street (Downtown Crossing area). One of the buildings saved was the Old South Meeting House (still standing today), through the efforts of volunteers. The Fire Chief, John Damrell, is credited with stopping the fire, but, unfairly, blame was put on him and his department and he was forced out. Damrell then lobbied for uniform national building codes.


Map on mapjunction.com:

(visit link) - The Great Boston Fire burn range is marked in heavy red ink and is numbered 14. It is the largest area on the map.

Other Source:

(visit link)

Type of Structure: other Other: Multiple buildings, mostly private. Fire Date: 11/09/1871 Structure status: Plaque Cause of Fire: A spark of unknown origin ignited flammable materials in a dry goods warehouse at 83—87 Summer Street. The flames then went up the chimney shaft to the roof and spread from there. Documentation of the fire: [Web Link] Construction Date: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Give a narrative of your experience. Did you learn anything after reading about the fire in the waymark? Photos are always welcome too. Please no virtual visits.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   11/22/2011 petendot visited it