Hopkinton, Massachusetts, USA
1882 - FIRE'S DESTRUCTIVE WORK. DISASTROUS CONFLAGRATION IN HOPKINTON, MASS.

MORE THAN HALF THE BUSINESS PORTION OF THE TOWN DESTROYED, INCLUDING THE TOWN HALL, BOOT FACTORY, AND A CHURCH - INCENDIARISM THE CAUSE - THE LOSS $350,000.

Hopkinton, Mass., April 4. - The most destructive fire that ever occurred in Hopkinton broke out at 8 A.M., commencing at the Town Hall and sweeping that building, occupied by P. W. SMITH, clothing, H. C. WILBURS & Co., groceries, and the telephone office. It also destroyed the boot factory of BRIDGES & Co., adjacent, the blocks occupied by the Post Office, and by A. A. SWEET, dry goods; the hotel and its barn, the Chapel Building, occupied by MISS LEONARD, millinery; the office of DR. O. C. WHITE, dentist; J. SHANKLE & Co., dry goods; B. E. DEWEY, drugs; the Congregational Church; L. H. WAKEFIELD'S house and barn, MAHON'S building, occupied by MAHON Brothers, dry goods and groceries; T. TOHER, billiard hall; N. L. PARKER, barber, and the residence of PATRICK McGOWEN and TIMOTHY CURRAN. The fire was probably of incendiary origin, and it is thought that powder was exploded in the basement under a back room attached to P. W. SMITH'S clothing store. The explosion was quite loud and was heard by many in the vicinity. The loss will aggregate $350,000. BRIDGES & Co.'s factory, owned by CLAFLLIN, COBURN & Co., of Boston, was the mainstay of the town, employing about 450 hands in the shop and giving employment to many outside -- about 600 in all. From 5,000 to 6,000 cases of finished goods were stored in their building. Their loss will be about $200,000 on stock and finished work, while the building and machinery cost about $60,000. It is understood that their insurance amounts to about $150,000.

The New York Times
New York, New York
April 5, 1882

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