September 1916: Fire of mysterious origin, which broke out in the upper part of the Nason Street school building, causing a loss of from $35,000 to $40,000. But eight days previous, Tuesday, September 12, at about the same hour of the night, 11 o'clock, a fire was discovered in the Assembly hall of the same building and put out with a loss of about $200. The fire last Wednesday night was discovered by John Rihilumonia, Main Street who was passing and who called the attention of Michael Luker, chauffeur for James A. Couglan, to it. Laker promptly called at the fire station. Box 41 was pulled in at 10:55 by Charles Dyson and George LeSage.
The first to arrive at the scene were Driver Tony Collins, James J. Ledgard and John Lawton, who immediately dashed into the building. They made progress to the second floor when they discovered the whole top of the structure was a seething mass of flames. Evidently the fire had been burning for some time before the arrival of the department as some of the heavy rafters were about to fall.
The hopefulness of saving the building was apparent soon after the alarm was sounded. So furious was the fire that within one half hour after the department had arrived the belfry of the school fell, and soon after was followed by the larger portion of the roof.
At 11:15 the side of the building near the property of John Smith, on Nason Street fell. By this time the flames were at their hottest and the fire had spread to every portion of the building.
The brilliancy of the fire lit up the sky and could be seen for miles. People from all the surrounding towns came in autos and horse drawn vehicles to witness the conflagration. The streets and sidewalks in the vicinity were crowded with thousands of spectators. Special officers formed fire lines at once and the dense crowd kept out of the danger zone.
No gaiety was in evidence among the people. To older residents, the sentiment that attaches one to the old school days, and the memories of happy days spent within the walls of the doomed school house, caused a gloom to settle over them. To the younger ones, who are now pupils, the sight of their school burning and their school burning and their articles of value in the desks, caused many expressions of sadness, "Gee I am sorry," said one youngster, "I know we won't have to go to school for awhile, but gee, it is too bad to see the school burn down."
Fortunately the night was calm. Had a wind been stirring, nothing could have saved the whole residential district surrounding the building. As it was, only the prompt action of the fire department in attending to the adjoining property saved a spread of the flames. Chief George Gutteridge detailed squads of firemen to wet down and watch the property. A line of hose in charge of Engineer Fred Axford was run along Glendale Street, as a precautionary measure to put out any blaze that might start by flying embers and sparks. At one time a slight blaze caused by flying sparks from a hot air explosion, started on the roof of James J. Coughlan's home on Acton Street, but it was quickly quenched.
The heat was so intense that clouds of steam rose from some of the roofs. The homes of Mr. LeMoyne, Mr. Williams and Mrs. Murphy on Acton Street and as far away as the Maynard Bottling Company, and works, Glendale Street, were in constant danger of the flying sparks. Some of the more adjacent householders took the precaution to pack their valuables. Furniture of others, even to stoves, was soon on the sidewalk.
The fire burned until nothing was left of the building but black ruins. All day Thursday and Friday, firemen were stationed there with a line of hose to wet down the smoldering ruins. All the records, other than those in the safe, were lost. Trinkets, keepsakes and some money, the property of children and teachers were lost. The safe contained, other than records, about $100 of stamps for the children's savings. Supt. Wm. H. Millington, among the first to arrive, immediately sought permission to enter the building in hope of saving some records. In spite of the warning that it was dangerous, he dashed into the building and succeeded in saving a last year's register and a typewriter. Manuscripts and records, compiled after years of experience and work, personal property of the superintendent, were lost. All record cards of the pupils for past years were also lost.
Many conjectures and theories are advanced to account for the starting of the fire. Some of the authorities, who are in the best position to know, believe that the fire was the work of an incendiary. The week previous to the fire, George Smith, janitor of the building, found a bottle containing inflammable liquid in the basement which had been placed there during the night. Superintendent Millington requested the selectmen at the beginning of the school year, to have the police keep a special watch on the building during the hours the school was closed. A light has been kept in the archway of the front entrance all night the past two weeks.
Indignation ran high as stories of a firebug passed through the town. Albert Smith, who lives next door to the school house, passed the building at 10:30 p.m. and saw no sign of fire, James Coughlan, who also resides near the school, passed near the building at 10:45 p.m., and said he saw no sign of flames. The building was insured for $22,500 and the furniture of $2,500. The town will collect the full insurance on the building. About $1,000 worth of new typewriters were consumed and some new desks that were intended for the new high school.
All inquest was held Friday at the selectmen's rooms on the fires at Naylor block, September 12, and the school building. Deputy Chief Neal and Inspector Frank G. Hale of the Mass. police, and Chief Gutteridge were present at the inquiry into the Naylor lan, with the three others mention, was on the board of inquiry of the school building fire. For the school fire, Supt. Millington, Principal Horace Bates and janitors George Smith and Thomas Hilferty were summoned. Abe and David Bander, Samuel Strosberg, Albert Hendrickson, Helia Tuikka and Julia Sheehan were summoned before the board for the Naylor block fire. The report given out of both investigations was cause unknown.
The erection of the Nason Street school building was completed in September, 1892 at a cost of $30,302. The citizens of that day were proud of the building is apparent by the report of the exercises which took place on October 5, 1892, at Music Hall, when the building was formally transferred to the town. Brigham's orchestra and eminent vocal talent furnished music for the occasion. James J. Sweeney, at that time one of the prominent attorneys of the State, was among the orators of the evening. Levi R. Cheney, selectmen for the town, Wilkinson Crosicy, for the school committee, and Charles H. Packard for the building committee, participated in the formal transfer of the building to the town.
Two members of the original building committee died during the erection of the building. One of these was Michael Sweeney, of whom the report of the committee for the year 1891-1892 says: "Mr. Sweeney, as chairman of the committee, was probably more closely identified with the building project than any other member of the board. It was largely through his earnest and untiring efforts that this movement was brought before the town. He was a most enthusiastic and loyal champion of the new school building and his unwavering interest, combined with a practical knowledge of this kind of work, made his services as chairman of the committee, invaluable." Joel Abbott was the other member of the committee that died during the time of the building.
The committee that completed the structure were Charles H. Packard, M.H. Garfield, David Henderson, Abel G. Haynes, Wilkinson Crosley, W. R. Hall, O.S. Fowler, J. F. Parmenter, Frank K. Harriman, Levi R. Cheney, Charles H. Persons. The building was a 12 room wooden structure, with an assembly hall. The contractor who erected the building was David H. Nugent of Mariboro.
The total number of children in attendance at the time of the fire was 744. It was planned that 339 of these would move Monday to the new high and grade school on Summer Street.
This would leave about 400 pupils in attendance or the same number for whom the school committee will have to provide temporary accommodations. The task before the committee is well nigh unsurmountable. All the books and equipment has been destroyed by the fire. Early Thursday the committee went into session and at once took action to secure the necessary equipment. By Saturday the following schedule had been arranged in hopes that the situation may be met.
All pupils were ordered to report as follows: high school opened at the Summer Street building at 8:15 a.m. Monday. Grades 7 and 8 reported at the same building Wednesday at 8:15 a.m. Bancroft and Main Street schools in their respective rooms at 8:30 a.m. Monday. Nason Street school pupils reported at 12:30 Monday as follows:
Miss Murray's to Miss Perley's room, Grade V., Bancroft Street.
Miss
Johnson's to Miss Nagle's room. Grade IV, Bancroft Street.
Miss Randelette's to
Miss Colman's room. Grade H, Bancroft Street.
Miss Dailey's to Miss Riley's
room. Grade H, Bancroft Street.
Miss May's to Miss Wallace's room. Grade VI,
Main Street.
Miss Weil's to Miss Carney's room. Grade V, Main Street.
Miss
Finn's to Miss Sullivan's room. Grade IV, Main Street
Miss Burdo's to Miss
Drummey's room, Grade III, Main Street.
Miss Keefe's to Miss Purdy's room, Grade
H, Main Street.
Miss Couglin's to Miss Bale's room. Grade I, Main Street.
The residents in the neighborhood of the fire, generously provided hot coffee and sandwiches for the fire fighters when the fire was under control. The firemen were appreciative and thankful for this kindness.