1881 John Dolan House And Barn Fire

"July 25th between nine and ten o’clock Monday morning fire burst forth from the barn belonging to John Dolan, and quickly spread to the shed and house, as they were all connected. Jerry Sullivan and Peter Feeney who were at work in the meadow at the rear of the buildings, and Peter Fahey, Martin Carroll, and Albert Badger, at work on the opposite side of the road, helped at once to remove what was possible from the surely fated building. M.A. Young, an employee of John Philips came to the village on horseback and gave the alarm.  Although the department responded promptly, it was probably twenty-five minutes from the time the fire was discovered before they arrived at the scene of the conflagration.  The Buckets were several minutes in advance of the rest, the Hooks passed the Eurekas at Pleasant street and had ladders raised on the Philips house the by the time the Eurekas arrived. It was evident to all that nothing could be saved, and the whole force was directed to saving the large valuable buildings on the Philips-late Goodnow- place, which caught fire several times from the flying burning brands.  Not withstanding there was a large working force at hand it would have been almost impossible to save said buildings had it not been for a row of large trees that stood between them and the burning buildings which caught many of the brands, three of which were ruined.  The Engine Company set their machine first at the usual mud hole, and later moved to the brook near the house of Henry Hapgood, playing through 800 or 900 feet of hose. The fire was first discovered by Mrs. Dolan who was washing in a room adjoining the barn, and over whose head a tongue of flame suddenly leaped. Mrs. Dolan and the children were cared for by neighbors, on offers of all thing necessary to make the family comfortable were made on every hand.  The furniture was moved into the house off Pleasant street, near the residence of William Miller, which the family will occupy temporarily at least.  Besides the buildings, the losses are hay, farming tools, a calf, a pig, all the kitchen furniture and the jewelry and wardrobe of Mrs. Dolan, and many things which have a history and are valuable as tokens of love and remembrance which money cannot replace."