Karen Herrick of the Calais Free Library looked up this story on the Shaw Bros. tannery fire of May 11,1887, and I thought the list might enjoy reading it, too: >From the Calais Advertiser, Wednesday, May 18, 1887: Fire Record A most destructive fire occurred at Grand Lake Stream on Wednesday last. It broke out in the engine house of the Shaw Bros. tannery, and destoyed the engine house, saw mill, dry house, roll loft, and the immense building that covered the tan vats, or yard, also ten thousand sides of leather, valued at $30,000. A strong northerly wind was blowing at the time, and no efforts to stay its progress availed. The loss is estimated at from $100,000 to $125,000. Insured for about $100,000, which has been adjusted satisfactorily to all concerned. The buildings will be rebuilt at once and business go right on as usual. The saddest thing that happened was the loss of one Edward White, one of the employees, who was burned to death while assisting in getting out a lot of hides. He got surrounded by the flames and could not get away and no one could get to him, and so perished. He leaves a widow and eight children, the oldest of which is a girl aged 17 years, and the youngest a child aged 16 months. So intense was the heat where he fell that five or six silver dollars and some coppers he had in his pocket melted and run together. A fire at Princeton the same day destroyed a store and house belonging to James Fenlason, with outbuildings; loss about $900; partially insured; the house and contents of Henry Fitch, loss $500; insurance $225; Baptist parsonage furniture; loss $300; not insured. Also three small buildings valued at $500. David Mitchell James 420 Central Rd Rye, NH 03870-2546 603 964-5472 jamesdm49@aol.com