Manchester, New Hampshire
Armory Fire
February 28, 1906
The New State Armory In Manchester
HANDSOME BUILDING BARELY ESCAPES DESTRUCTION
Flames In the Basement Apartments Gain Great
Headway
Loss Estimated At $5000 And Military Companies
Crippled
(Special to The Herald)
Manchester, March 1 --The new state
armory in this city, erected only two years ago
was badly damaged by fire last night. The loss
is estimated at something over $5000. Two alarms
were necessary and at one time it seemed certain
that the building would be totally destroyed.
The flames were practically confined to the
basement, where the equipment rooms were, and
the greatest loss is the destruction of the
contents of the rooms. The local infantry
companies and the battery will keenly feel this
loss and are likely to be crippled for some
time.
The fire was discovered just before midnight by
Police Officer Hamilton and was then well under
way. Officers of the companies had detected
smoke an hour earlier, but failed to find any
other sign of fire.
A mixup in the fire alarm system delayed the
firemen somewhat, but prompt action remedied the
difficulty and but little time was really lost.
That the entire building was not destroyed seems
but little short of miraculous. The flames did
make their way into the drill shed, but were
subdued.
Smoke badly damaged the paintings in the company
rooms and uniforms were damaged by smoke and
water. The colors of the First regiment were
taken from the building by
Capt.. Elliot and Lieut.
Flynn.
The cost of the armory was $48,000. Its total
dimensions are 192 by 102 feet, with a height of
fifty-two feet. On the ground floor is the drill
shed, 134 feet long and ninety-two feet wide. On
the floor above are a large hall and four
company rooms. On the second floor, there are
additional company rooms, officers’ quarters,
the regimental headquarters and a band room.
In the basement, to which the fire was confined,
are the battery gun room, company property
rooms, the quartersmaster’s, [sic] gun cleaning,
toilet, bath and boiler rooms
The fire started in the battery gun room and the
probable cause was spontaneous combustion, , due
to oily waste used in cleaning the guns.
Portsmouth Herald, Portsmouth, NH 1 Mar
1906
LOSS EXCEEDS $15,000
Manchester Armory More Seriously Damaged Than at
First Thought
It is now thought that the loss from the fire
which damaged the new state armory at Manchester
will exceed $15,000. Nearly all uniforms, except
those which members of the militia companies had
at their homes, were destroyed. Some of the
rifles were ruined and the entire building will
probably have to be refinished. It is believed
that most of the pictures can be saved.
Company C, First regiment, carried insurance to
the amount of $250 and the battery has insurance
of $1000.
The armory was inspected on Thursday by
Adjutant General A. D.
Ayling, Inspector
General George D.
Waldron and
Major Knowlton. The National Guard
has no money to pay for repairs, but the
Governor and council will be asked to take
action next Tuesday. The matter was discussed
with Gov. McLane
on Thursday. Contributions from Manchester
citizens have been suggested.
There was no insurance on the building.
Brig. Gen. Jason E.
Tolles of Nashua expressed the
opinion on Thursday that the fire will not
interfere with the June encampment of the
National Guard. All damage, he thinks, will be
repaired before then.
Portsmouth Herald, Portsmouth, NH 2 Mar
1906
Transcribed by Helen
Coughlin. Thank you, Helen!
 Search
for more information on the Manchester Armory Fire
and other disasters in the Historic
Newspapers Collection. The number of
newspapers on line has recently doubled - search
over 1000 different newspapers. Use this
Free trial to search for your ancestors.
Search for ancestors in
Manchester, NH among billions of names at ancestry.com. Use this
Free trial to search for your ancestors.
Semi-centennial
of the city of Manchester, New Hampshire, September 6, 7, 8, 9, 1896
Read it online at ancestry.com.
Use this
Free trial to search for your ancestors.
|
