Gypsy Heart
Gold Member
Keene, New Hampshire
Tavern Fire
May 27.1822
Keene, (N. H.) June 1. FIRE.--- The inhabitants of this village were alarmed on Monday night, about 11 o'clock by the flames bursting through the roof of the large three story Stage-Tavern-House, owned by E. Parker, Esq. and Mr. Timothy Hall, and occupied by Mr. George Sparhawk. Before a sufficient number of the citizens could be collected to work the principle engine, all expectation of saving the building thus enveloped, was lost, and every effort was directed to stop its further progress, and rescue from the flames as much of the furniture and other property in the house, as possible. As the fire broke out in the upper story or garret in the S. W. corner of the house, the store of Mr. L. Weelock, situated only 20 feet south, was at first most imminently endangered. Providentially, the air was very still, and before the heat became excessive, that exposed, was covered with blankets, and kept perfectly soaked with the engine. By this time the air was in motion, and the flames had extended to the North in the direction of the wind; and the store of Messrs. Lamson & Blake, (in which the Post-Office was kept) with that of Col. J. Perry, adjoining, it was feared must fall a sacrifice.----The small but very efficient factory engine now arrived, which was sufficient to guard effectually the store at the South, while every means was used to keep that on the north from taking fire. The water having failed in the cistern on the common, a line was promptly formed to a brook about 1-4th of a mile to the east. By this time the air was filed [sic] with burning cinders, which took a direction over the Meeting house, the roof of which was soon discovered to be blazing near the ridge pole. The was speedily extinguished, by the engine on the outside & by water thrown from the upper flooring in the inside. The engine then repaired to the defence [sic] of the store, and the great and extraordinary efforts of the people, were at length crowned with success. The stores on either side present the appearance of a close seige [sic]---that on the north 50 feet from the burning house, having caught several times, and was readily extinguished. Every thing that could be done was promptly put in execution; and it is a pleasing reflection, that the citizens yielded a ready obedience to the suggestions of the fire wards in all cases. The importance of fire engines, and the good effects of regulations emanating from lawful authority, were fully tested. A subscription it now rapidly filling, to purchase another and more efficient engine.
American Mercury, Hartford, CT 10 Jun 1822
On Monday night last, the Stage-Tavern-House at Keene, owned by E. Parker, Esq. and Mr. I. Hall, and occupied by Mr. George Sparhawk, was destroyed by fire, together with a considerable portion of the furniture. The house was insured to its full value.
The Salem Gazette, Salem, MA 4 Jun 1822
The large building occupied by Mr. George Sparhawk, in Keene, as the stage tavern was consumed by fire on the 27th ult. The flames were first discovered in the roof, and it is conjectured the fire caught in the chimney, between the roof and the upper floor. From the nearness of several other buildings, they were much endangered, and the meeting-house actually took fire near the ridge-pole. But the activity of the citizens soon extinguished it, and prevented the further ravages of the unruly element. Insurance had been effected on the Tavern House, which was the property of E. Parker, Esq. and Mr. Timo. Hall; and the principal loss fell upon Mr. Sparhawk, whose furniture was principally destroyed or injured.
New-Hampshire Patriot & State Gazette, Keene, NH 10 Jun 1822
On Monday night, May 27, 1822, the large, three-story stage tavern on the site of the present Cheshire House, owned by Elijah Parker and Timothy Hall, and kept by George Sparhawk, was burned to the ground. The single engine of the town "and a small one from the glass factory," with the aid of citizens passing buckets of water, saved the stores of Lamson & Blake and Justus Perry on the north, only fifty feet away; and that of Lynds Wheelock on the south, only twenty feet away. The cistern of water on the common was soon exhausted, and then lines were formed to Beaver brook---one of men passing the full buckets and one of women and boys passing the empty ones. The roof of the meetinghouse took fire, but was extinguished by the engine. Fortunately there was very little wind, and the village was thus saved from a more serious conflagration.1 The building was insured in the Ætna company for nearly its full value, and the sum was promptly paid. This fire roused the people to the importance of having a more efficient organization for extinguishing fires. A subscription was immediately started for the purchase of another engine; and the Keene Engine Co., John Elliot, clerk, called a meeting at Wadley's tavern to choose officers, make by-laws and regulations, and to see if the company would purchase a new engine. The Keene Fire Society was also formed and continued for many years; and soon afterwards the Fire Fencibles were organized, with Samuel Dinsmoor, clerk.
1 It was provided by law that every village householder should keep a prescribed number of leathern fire-buckets on hand for use in case of fire.
A History of the Townof Keene from 1732, when the Township was Granted by Massachusetts, to 1874,
Tavern Fire
May 27.1822
Keene, (N. H.) June 1. FIRE.--- The inhabitants of this village were alarmed on Monday night, about 11 o'clock by the flames bursting through the roof of the large three story Stage-Tavern-House, owned by E. Parker, Esq. and Mr. Timothy Hall, and occupied by Mr. George Sparhawk. Before a sufficient number of the citizens could be collected to work the principle engine, all expectation of saving the building thus enveloped, was lost, and every effort was directed to stop its further progress, and rescue from the flames as much of the furniture and other property in the house, as possible. As the fire broke out in the upper story or garret in the S. W. corner of the house, the store of Mr. L. Weelock, situated only 20 feet south, was at first most imminently endangered. Providentially, the air was very still, and before the heat became excessive, that exposed, was covered with blankets, and kept perfectly soaked with the engine. By this time the air was in motion, and the flames had extended to the North in the direction of the wind; and the store of Messrs. Lamson & Blake, (in which the Post-Office was kept) with that of Col. J. Perry, adjoining, it was feared must fall a sacrifice.----The small but very efficient factory engine now arrived, which was sufficient to guard effectually the store at the South, while every means was used to keep that on the north from taking fire. The water having failed in the cistern on the common, a line was promptly formed to a brook about 1-4th of a mile to the east. By this time the air was filed [sic] with burning cinders, which took a direction over the Meeting house, the roof of which was soon discovered to be blazing near the ridge pole. The was speedily extinguished, by the engine on the outside & by water thrown from the upper flooring in the inside. The engine then repaired to the defence [sic] of the store, and the great and extraordinary efforts of the people, were at length crowned with success. The stores on either side present the appearance of a close seige [sic]---that on the north 50 feet from the burning house, having caught several times, and was readily extinguished. Every thing that could be done was promptly put in execution; and it is a pleasing reflection, that the citizens yielded a ready obedience to the suggestions of the fire wards in all cases. The importance of fire engines, and the good effects of regulations emanating from lawful authority, were fully tested. A subscription it now rapidly filling, to purchase another and more efficient engine.
American Mercury, Hartford, CT 10 Jun 1822
On Monday night last, the Stage-Tavern-House at Keene, owned by E. Parker, Esq. and Mr. I. Hall, and occupied by Mr. George Sparhawk, was destroyed by fire, together with a considerable portion of the furniture. The house was insured to its full value.
The Salem Gazette, Salem, MA 4 Jun 1822
The large building occupied by Mr. George Sparhawk, in Keene, as the stage tavern was consumed by fire on the 27th ult. The flames were first discovered in the roof, and it is conjectured the fire caught in the chimney, between the roof and the upper floor. From the nearness of several other buildings, they were much endangered, and the meeting-house actually took fire near the ridge-pole. But the activity of the citizens soon extinguished it, and prevented the further ravages of the unruly element. Insurance had been effected on the Tavern House, which was the property of E. Parker, Esq. and Mr. Timo. Hall; and the principal loss fell upon Mr. Sparhawk, whose furniture was principally destroyed or injured.
New-Hampshire Patriot & State Gazette, Keene, NH 10 Jun 1822
On Monday night, May 27, 1822, the large, three-story stage tavern on the site of the present Cheshire House, owned by Elijah Parker and Timothy Hall, and kept by George Sparhawk, was burned to the ground. The single engine of the town "and a small one from the glass factory," with the aid of citizens passing buckets of water, saved the stores of Lamson & Blake and Justus Perry on the north, only fifty feet away; and that of Lynds Wheelock on the south, only twenty feet away. The cistern of water on the common was soon exhausted, and then lines were formed to Beaver brook---one of men passing the full buckets and one of women and boys passing the empty ones. The roof of the meetinghouse took fire, but was extinguished by the engine. Fortunately there was very little wind, and the village was thus saved from a more serious conflagration.1 The building was insured in the Ætna company for nearly its full value, and the sum was promptly paid. This fire roused the people to the importance of having a more efficient organization for extinguishing fires. A subscription was immediately started for the purchase of another engine; and the Keene Engine Co., John Elliot, clerk, called a meeting at Wadley's tavern to choose officers, make by-laws and regulations, and to see if the company would purchase a new engine. The Keene Fire Society was also formed and continued for many years; and soon afterwards the Fire Fencibles were organized, with Samuel Dinsmoor, clerk.
1 It was provided by law that every village householder should keep a prescribed number of leathern fire-buckets on hand for use in case of fire.
A History of the Townof Keene from 1732, when the Township was Granted by Massachusetts, to 1874,
