Augusta, ME Fire, Sept 1865

On Saturday, Sept. 16, 1865, occurred in Augusta the most destructive fire that had up to that date occurred in the State. The entire business portion of the city was destroyed, the fire extending from the passenger bridge to Winthrop-street, and from the river to above the railroad track, leaving everything a smoking mass of ruins. All the lawyers' offices and banks, two hotels, the post-office, express and telegraph offices, all the dry goods, book and clothing stores, and a large unfinished depot were destroyed. More than forty buildings, occupied as places of business by over one hundred individuals and firms, were burnt. This was also supposed to be an incendiary fire. The loss was estimated at $250,000.

The New York Times, New York, NY 10 Jul 1866

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GREAT FIRE IN AUGUSTA, MAINE.

The Business Portion of the City Destroyed.

AUGUSTA, Sunday, Sept. 17. The most destructive fire that ever occurred in Maine swept through this city this morning. The entire business portion of the city, extending from the passenger bridge to Winthrop-street, and from the river to above the railroad track, is a smoking mass of ruins.

The fire broke out in a new wooden building on Water-street, into which the occupant moved only yesterday, and spread rapidly in all directions. The utmost efforts of the firemen could only confine its destructive progress to the limits above-mentioned. Every lawyer's office in the city, all the banks, two hotels, the post-office, the express and telegraph offices, all the dry goods, book and clothing stores in the city, the United States Quartermaster, Commissary and Pension Offices, the new depot, (yet unfinished,) the Age newspaper office, and many other buildings, in all numbering more than forty, and occupied as the places of business of more than a hundred individuals and firms, were burned. Many saved portions of the whole of their stock, while others lost everything. The banks succeeded in saving all their papers and treasure. The fire was undoubtedly the work of an incendiary. The losses cannot now be estimated, but they cannot fall short of half a million dollars. No estimate of the amount of insurance has yet been made.

The New York Times, New York, NY 18 Sept 1865
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!