Troublesome Fires
Amongst the greatest threats to a growing city is the breakout of a fire. The fire of 1872 in Boston leveled much of the city, leaving entire areas to be rebuilt. 359-439 Atlantic was no stranger to fires, sustaining several significant fires before the Central Artery came to fruition. As indicated by Sanborn Insurance maps, 359-439 Atlantic was primarily made of brick with the exception of a single building at 397 Atlantic that was made from wood. Located close to the parcel was box number 47, an alarm system used to alert authorities of an emergency before telephones existed. In this section we explore two fires that affected 359-439 Atlantic, and the measures that were taken to stop them.
The Fires of 359-439 Atlantic Avenue
Click the link buttons below to learn more about two fires that impacted 359-439 Atlantic Ave:
Preventative measures
Bromley & Co. Map, 1912
Built from a fire resistant material, the brick exterior of all but one building on 359-439 Atlantic Ave was designed to limit the spread of fires from one unit to the next. In accordance with the post 1872 building code that "...required fire escapes, fire exits, and fire resistant construction"(Seasholes 72) the designers of 359-439 Atlantic Ave aimed to avoid history from repeating itself with the exception of one building. The wooden building depicted in yellow on the map at 397 Atlantic, and in the center of the picture below, was an outlier in this industrial district of Boston. Due to poor photograph quality it is difficult to see what resided within the wooden building, but considering the building material was consistent from before the fire it must have been a business that avoided flammable objects.
Boston Elevated Railway Company. "Looking northerly on Atlantic Avenue from number 426." Photograph. September 19, 1899
Bibliography
Works Cited
“Atlascope Boston.” Atlascope Boston · Historic Urban Atlases from the Norman B. Leventhal
Map & Education Center, Norman B Leventhal Map & Education Center at the
Boston Public Library, 2020, https://atlascope.leventhalmap.org/#view:address-search-bar.
"A $25,000 MORNING BLAZE.: LIVELY WORK FOR THE FIREMEN IN A FIVE-STORY BRICK BUILDING ON PURCHASE STREET-- LOSSES OF THE OCCYOANTS." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), May 09 1883, p. 10. ProQuest. Web. 25 Oct. 2022 .
"BAD FIRE ON WATER FRONT: BUILDING AT FOSTER'S WHARF BURNED. THREE ALARMS FOR BLAZE AT 4 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING. LOSS IS HEAVY--FIREMEN SUFFER WITH COLD." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Dec 09, 1912. https://holycross.idm.oclc.org/login?auth=cas&url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/bad-fire-on-water-front/docview/502144131/se-2.
"FELL FROM A HIGH LADDER: FIREMAN HANDY RECEIVES AN ELECTRIC SHOCK. CAUGHT BY A COMRADE WHO WAS A FEW FEET BELOW HIM. PURCHASE STREET BUILDING GUTTED BY FLAMES--LOSS, $30,000." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Oct 07 1888, p. 1. ProQuest. Web. 25 Oct. 2022 .
"FIRE LOSS $1,570,533.25.: BOSTON PROTECTIVE DEPARTMENT ISSUES ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1902--ALARMS AVERAGED MORE THAN FIVE A DAY." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Feb 27, 1903. https://holycross.idm.oclc.org/login?auth=cas&url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/fire-loss-1-570-533-25/docview/499819008/se-2.
FIRE RAVAGES: AN OIL CLOTHING FACTORY IN EAST CAMBRIDGE DESTROYED--NARROW ESCAPE FROM A CON[...]--LOSS $25,000; INSURANCE $21,000--A $1500 BLAZE ON PURCHASE STREET. CITY. SUCH A DIRE CALAMITY. IN THIS CITY." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Aug 08 1877, p. 2. ProQuest. Web. 5 Dec. 2022 .
"TWO ALARMS SENT OUT.: LIVELY FIRE IN THE BIG BLOCK AT OLIVEY AND PURCHASE STREETS SUBDUED WITH COMPARATIVELY SMALL DAMAGE. FIRE IN THE MARSHES. LOCAL FIRE RECORD." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), May 08 1893, p. 2. ProQuest. Web. 25 Oct. 2022 .