Last week we began talking about the coming of the railroad and the accidents this new form of transportation brought with it. Tom Beardsley had written a story about how the “Air Line” once affected Bolton. The term “air line”,by the way, came into being long before aviation and simply referred to a railroad route that was relatively straight and followed a shorter and therefore a quicker route instead of a long, winding one. The railroad came to Bolton in 1849 and the air line in 1873. While the railroad’s coming had a dramatic impact on the towns it passed through, Bolton had remained relatively unaffected. When the railroad first came to town in 1849, Andover boasted five saw mills, five blacksmith shops, two shoe shops, three hat factories, two trip hammers, a grist mill, a paper mill, a shingle mill, a carriage factory, a miniature cabinet factory, an inn and two stores. It hardly grew after that. In fact, Andover’s population actually declined. But one day in 1880, the air line made a great impact upon Andover. Here’s Tom’s story with a few added details. The air line's locomotives were steam driven, and sparks flying from the locomotives’ stacks often caused forest fires, and set crop fields alight. Just seven years after the Air Line’s completion, an Air Line locomotive almost destroyed downtown Andover. On June 30, l880, the Boston Express, while speeding through Andover at 11:45 a.m., dropped sparks on the roof of the Andover railroad depot. The small station building was covered with old shingles, and was as dry as tinder.  Within minutes giant flames were engulfing the depot. Employees of the New York and New England Railroad Company bravely rushed into the burning station in an attempt to save railroad proper ty and succeeded in removing the railroad’s property – books, telegraph instruments, parcels, freight and the U.S. mail as Andover’s post office was located in the depot. The “New Haven Journal Courier” reported that, “(T)he letters were saved but some money was lost. Two or three tons of freight were thrown into the street, and some salt and meal were lost. A sleigh and other articles were also burned.” The blaze spread cinders around the small town, and the Webster House Hotel, which stood directly opposite the depot, caught fire.  The railroad company’s tenement house, occupied by a Mr. Hall the station agent, and buildings belonging to L. D. Post were also on fire in several places. The water from the depot’s tank was hosed onto the Webster house, and neighboring buildings. Wells were pumped dry in the attempt to save the other buildings. Local people from around the town assisted railroad employees in fighting the many fires and many risked their lives by bravely approaching the flames.  Capt. B. Hutchinson‘s expansive barn, and several dwelling houses caught fire. The flames were extinguished, “by the ladies of the place who worked bravely in carrying water and in other ways, and it was in a great measure to their labors that the saving of our homes was due.” Just as it seemed the fires had been doused, a new alarm was given. L. H. Porters large house in which he also kept his store was burning. It was about a 100 yards from the depot and had also suffered from the locomotives flying cinders.  A large force of men set about the fire and extinguished it, but while this fire was being fought, it was discovered that Porter’s barn was also on fire.  The flames had gained such headway that it was impossible to extinguish them and the barn was burned to the ground. Then W. N.  Cleveland’s barn was found to be on fire, but was promptly extinguished.  Had the Webster House or Post’s building burned, then Andover’s main street would probably have been totally destroyed. As the flames were being fought the 12:50 p.in. train to Boston was held up at Andover for an hour, and the passengers, porters and engineers joined the locals in fighting the fires. There was also a court in session and so Justice Phelps adjourned it and everyone left the court to combat the flames.  The Andover selectmen sent a request to the New York and New England Railroad Co. and asked it to place new netting in the smokestack of engine No. 2, which had set the fire. The same engine had set fire to the Andover depot two weeks previously, and had also set seven fires on the section between Andover and Bolton in one day.  It was an eventful summer week in Andover in 1880.

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