OTHER FIRES.
A Brisk Fire at Concord, Mass.—Losses
and Insurance.
[Special Dispatch to the Boston Herald]
CONCORD, Feb. 17, 1881. By far the largest and most disastrous fire that has visited Concord for years, at one time threatening to destroy the entire business part of the town known as the Milldam, occurred at 4 o’clock this morning. The building owned by Mr. George Hunt, and occupied by him in the lower portion as a grocery store, and in the upper story by D.F. Potter, upholsterer, together with the livery stable connected with the Middlesex Hotel property, owned by the Middlesex Institution for Savings, were totally destroyed. The fire originated in the former building, probably in that portion occupied by the owner, but the exact cause is not yet known. Nothing was saved from the building, with the exception of the safe containing the books, papers, etc. The building was valued at about $1200, and was insured for $2000. There was also an insurance of $2000 on the stock. The stable contained 8 horses, 1 cow, 14 pigs, 5 carriages, 2 pungs, a heavy express wagon, and about $300 worth of harnesses, on which stock there was no insurance, but fortunately all was saved except about eight pigs. The building was insured for $1000, which probably fully covers the loss. The Middlesex Hotel was several times on fire, and trunks, furniture, etc., were hastily removed, but it was saved by the strenuous efforts of the fire department. Landlord Jacobs estimates his loss at about $800; uninsured. Mr. Potter’s loss on stock, tools, etc., is about $400; uninsured. The small building situated next to Hunts, occupied by Russ Hayward, gunsmith, owned by G.L. Eaton, was slightly damaged, but the loss was more than covered by insurance. The paint on the drug store of J.C. Friend, on the opposite side of the street, was badly blistered.
The following is a list of the losses and insurance: George Hunt, grocer, lost everything, but it is understood that his loss is well covered by insurance as follows: On building, $2000 in the Citizens’ Insurance Company of Boston; on stock, $2000 in the North British and Mercantile Insurance Company of London. M.L. Hatch, plumber and tinner, had $1500 insurance on stock, etc., in the Phoenix Insurance Company of Hartford, and $1500 in the Home Insurance Company of New York city. His stock was damaged by water only. His store building was insured in the Merchants’ & Farmers’ Insurance Company of Worcester. Loss on store, $1000; on stock, $200. The Middlesex Hotel stable, on which the Middlesex Institution for Savings at Concord held a mortgage, was insured, it is understood, for $1000 in the Aetna Insurance Company of Hartford. The loss is about $2000. James W. Jacobs, proprietor of the Middlesex Hotel, loses on stable stock about $400, and on furniture, etc., in the hotel, $600; insured for $1400 in the Dorchester Mutual Fire Insurance Company; $1000 in the Aetna Fire Insurance Company of Hartford, and $3000 in the Liverpool, London and Globe Insurance Company. Russell Hayward, gunsmith, met with a small loss. The building he occupied was owned by the heirs of Alvan Pratt, and was insured for $300 in the Traders and Mechanics’ Insurance Company of Lowell. Daniel F. Potter, upholsterer, lost about $300, and had no insurance. Most of the contents of the Middlesex Hotel were removed, and, at one time, it was feared the entire structure would be destroyed. Had it not been for the Concord water works the milldam buildings would probably all have been swept away. The total loss will probably be upward of $7000.