1846 - Disastrous Fire in Billerica, Mass.

Between 12 and 1 o'clock on Friday morning, one of the buildings attached to the Billerica mills, which are about four miles east of Lowell, was discovered to be in flames, and quickly the whole of that extensive establishment was in ruins, with the exception of one mill which is used for cutting dye-wood and is on the opposite side of the river. The mils were owned by the Middlesex canal company, and were probably insured. They consisted of a saw mill occupied by Mr. Wilson, a flour and grain mill occupied by George Roundy & Co., and two large carpet mills, one occupied by Roger Lang, the other by Mr. Hannegan. Although the loss is undoubtedly very heavy, about $20,000, there is a large amount of insurance on the stock, &c, of the occupants.