Augusta, Maine
Opera House Block Fire
July
4, 1896
BLOW TO AUGUSTA.
The Fine New Opera House Block Burned.
Contained Theater, City Offices and Stores on
Ground Floor.
Thought Fire Crackers Caused the Ruin and Heavy
Loss.
AUGUSTA, Me., July 4. – The Opera House
block was destroyed by fire tonight, the fire
being discovered shortly before midnight.
It was rebuilt at a cost of $40,000 by
Hon. J. Manchester Haynes
in the summer of 1891.
On its site stood Granite Hall block,
destroyed by fire in 1890.
It is not now known whether the block will be
rebuilt or not. Its loss will be much felt in
Augusta as it contained the fine Opera House. It
contained also city government and city
treasurer’s rooms and offices.
On the street floor were the store of
E. W. Church, grocer; Augusta Deposit
and Trust Company, café, and
Charles K. Partridge,
druggist. It is located opposite the post office
and the total loss will probably reach $60,000
of which there is partial insurance on the
building.
The fire is supposed to have caught in the
rear in a sub-passageway.
The cause is supposed to have been fire
crackers.
Bangor Daily Whig and Courier, Bangor, ME
4 Jul 1896
Transcribed by
Jenni Lanham. Thank you,
Jenni!
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