Canaan, New Hampshire Fire

June 2, 1923

FORTY HOMES AND STORES IN RUINS

Children Playing With Matches Believed to Have Caused Conflagration -- Aid rushed to Stricken Village From Surrounding Country

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT., June 2--Two men were burned to death, another was probably fatally burned and a woman is missing in a fire which practically wiped out
the village of Canaan, N. H., 18 miles from here, late today, according to reports to railroad officials here.

The fire started, according to latest reports, in a barn in the center of the village near the railroad. Children playing with matches were believed to have started the blaze. The first buildings to go were the freight and passenger stations of the Boston & Maine Railroad. The village has a population of 1,200.

More than 40 homes and stores including buildings of the Boston & Maine Railroad were destroyed before the fire burned itself out.

Railroad firemen reported the dead men were a father and son named Gilman. The name of the woman said to be missing was not known. Among the buildings burned was a hotel, which was destroyed soon after the fire started.

All telephone and telegraph lines were out of commission and the rails of the main line of the railroad were so warped and twisted by the heat that all traffic was stopped.

Fire fighting apparatus was rushed to the stricken village from here, Concord, Lebanon, Enfield and Franklin. By the time the engines made the long run over country roads the fire was nearly out. Boston & Maine linemen, rushed to the scene to repair wires, gave first details of the fire.

Men, women and children of the village, aided by farmers from the surrounding countryside, fought to save their belongings or took their places in the bucket brigade line. A wind of almost gale force was blowing at the time and the intense heat evaporated the buckets of water almost before it touched the burning buildings.

Surrounding towns are sending tents and blankets and houses of the countryside are being thrown open for those made homeless by the fire.

Middletown Daily Herald, Middletown, NY 3 Jun 1923

Fire Under Control After Destroying Section of Village

Concord, N. H., June 2.--Aid has been sent from here to Canaan, where fire is reported to be sweeping through the village. At the Boston and Maine railroad offices here it was said that the Canaan station was afire and that several other buildings had been either destroyed or damaged,
including the telephone office.

The fire is said to have started in the railroad freight house, burning off the telephone wires which passed directly over the building. Help has been sent also from Enfield and Lebanon, N. H., and White River Junction, Vt.

The fire was believed to be under control late this afternoon. The buildings destroyed included a number of stores, the Baptist church, the Catholic church, the Hotel Barnard, an overall factory and several dwellings.

The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA 3 Jun 1923

TOWN IS ALMOST WIPED OUT; ONE MAN WAS KILLED
(By The Associated Press)

CANAAN, N. H., June 2.-- Two thirds of this town was wiped out today by fire which caused the death of one man, probably fatal injuries to another and rendered 200 persons homeless. Forty-two buildings were burned to the ground and it was believed the loss would be more than
$500,000.

Only a few buildings in the entire community remained intact tonight when the flames had been brought under control or had burned themselves out, despite the fact that fire apparatus from all the nearby cities and towns was called to aid.

The dead man was S. B. Gilman, a large property owner, who was found in a field after the flames had subsided. He had been burned to death. It was believed that while hurrying from one burning building to another his clothing took fire and he had perished before he could reach aid.

The flames started in the loft of a small stable in the rear of the residence of Mrs. A. A. Stevens and firemen said tonight that they believe children playing with matches or smoking were responsible for the laying waste of the town.

The Bee, Danville, VA 4 Jun 1923

The dead men were Sidney B. Gilman, storekeeper, and his father, Horatio A. Gilman, 80 years old. The body of the former was found in a field near his home while the flames were still in progress yesterday.

The Bridgeport Telegram, Bridgeport, CT 4 Jun 1923

TWO STOREKEEPERS OF CANAAN DO “BUSINESS AS USUAL” SELLING FROM BOXES IN BURNED AREA

CANAAN, N. H., June 4 (By Associated Press)--“Business as usual.” is the motto of two storekeepers whose stores were destroyed in the fire which swept this village Saturday and who are selling goods today from dry goods boxes set up in the midst of the ruined area. Two railroad cars on the siding form the temporary railroad station and the telephone exchange for the present is in the home of the chief operator, Miss Mary Dwyer, which narrowly escaped destruction after being on fire four times.

Several of the business men have announced their intention of rebuilding as soon as possible and, those who lost their dwellings also are making plans for restoration of the village. Contributions of money, food, clothing and bedding have been received from numerous points in this state and Vermont.

The fire resulted in two deaths and the destruction of 42 building with a loss of half a million dollars.

The authorities today accepted as the explanation for the start of the conflagration the story of a four-year-old boy that he had been playing with matches in a barn and accidentally set fire to a pile of hay. This building was in flames shortly after the boy and his companions had run out and a 40-mile wind swept the fire the whole length of the village.

The Fitchburg Sentinel, Fitchburg, MA 4 Jun 1923

Transcribed by Helen Coughlin.  Thank you, Helen!

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