Nason Lumber Yard Fire by Pete Zizka 1-7-2023 |
Today it’s the site of the new Senior and Recreation Center but it has
an interesting history. Many people today still remember when the
sprawling layout of the Willimantic Lumber and Coal Company occupied the
area. Some may still remember, or, at least, will have heard stories
about the disastrous September, 1940 fire that destroyed the company’s
buildings and stock. But the Willimantic Lumber and coal wasn’t the
first lumber company to sit on that corner nor was it the first to
experience such a devastating fire. In 1861, Hyde Kingsley and Silas
Loomer established what would be Willimantic’s first lumber company and
located it on Valley Street between Church and Temple Streets. The
venture was a profitable one and soon after, Kingsley built a mansion on
Prospect Street. He then leased the lumberyard to George Nason who then
purchased the yard when Kingsley died in 1886. Under Nason’s ownership,
it became the largest lumberyard in Eastern Connecticut. In 1888, Nason
began construction on a huge
lumber storage building that faced Valley Street. In the early morning
hours of February 13, 1894, a fire that would eventually consume the
whole lumberyard and several adjacent buildings was discovered. (Today’s
colorized photo shows the lumber yard before the fire) In those days,
the police station was nearby on Church Street and the police walked
beats on Main Street and Valley Street. It was believed that the
policemen on the Valley Street beat had just passed by the location only
minutes before a citizen noticed the blaze. The fire department was
alerted and responded quickly to the fire even though there was a
blinding snowstorm with gale winds and almost a foot of snow on the
ground. The firefighters were praised for their response and efforts and
it was noted that the alarm bell had rung “only a few strokes before the
hose trucks were on their way to the fire”. People who had heard the
alarms (the fire bell and train whistles) began to assemble and they
assisted the firefighters to the extent that not only did the hose
trucks arrive at the scene quickly despite the snow, but the
firefighters were able to direct nine streams of water on the fire.
Within two hours, the fire was brought under control. However, the
lumber company’s buildings and stock were destroyed and the nearby W.L.
Williams livery stables badly damaged. A small saloon on Temple and
Valley Streets was also completely burned. The fire was believed to have
been set and a reward of $200 was offered,” for the detection and
conviction of the incendiary”.
Nevertheless, despite the amount of damage, the fire department was
rightly praised for its efforts. A report said, “The greatest praise is
due to Chief Leonard and the entire department for the vigorous and
persistent fight and although a volunteer department, the city is
prouder of them than ever”. Another positive note was that the city’s
water system proved to be more than adequate for any emergency. Still,
while the fire department was receiving accolades, the police department
was beset by rumors that it was not “attending to business”, that it was
citizens, not the police, who discovered the fire and that it took
nearly fifteen minutes before the fire bell was rung. Immediately, Mayor
Harrington was quick to defend the police and, “satisfied himself that
the police were just where their instructions required them to be.” But
he asked the Common Council to instruct the Police Committee to look
into the allegations and prepare a report. By the end of March, 1894,
the committee had completed its investigation. The report was quite
detailed and showed that the committee had held four hearings and had
examined seventeen witnesses. The most persistent criticism had been
that it was not a policeman who discovered the fire, but a citizen. The
report stated that while no fault could be assigned to the department,
“it would have been greatly to the credit of the department had some of
the members given the first alarm”. Witness testimony, in general,
indicated that the fire was discovered just before 2 A.M. and the train
whistles and fire bell began sounding shortly after. A police officer at
High and Valley Streets saw the reflection in the sky and rang alarm box
22 but the system malfunctioned due to several alarm boxes being
activated simultaneously. The report then exonerated the police
department and said there was, “not sufficient grounds for censure”. Log
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