
|
(presumed to be from the Day Spring)
No date on original newspaper article
Hartford - When the fire in Hartford on June 21,
1877, destroyed nearly all the buildings on the south side of Main Street,
it was considered by some a catastrophe; however, others considered it a
fortunate event, since it removed a number of unsightly buildings and
cleaned up Main Street.
The fire originated in the store of Jacobson and
Spaulding, dry goods and groceries; and continued to spread on main Street
to include the stores of Paul Husen, jeweler; Levi Earl, butcher; C.
Boynton, grocer; W. Watt, shoemaker; H.M. Olney, druggist; W.R. Mills,
photographer; Harley and Smith liquor; A.H. Young, dry good and groceries;
John Gross, meat market; H. Eaton, clothing and groceries; and Sherburne
and Crafts, general merchandise.
The loss was valued at $20,000 but only $6,500 was
covered by insurance.
Immediately after the fire, the people of Hartford
began clearing away the debris and making plans to rebuild. The
businesses destroyed by the fire moved into various vacant stores around
town and they continued operating until their new stores were erected,
which, incidentally, due to a motion passed by the town council had to be
brick structures.
|