Guest Editorial: Peabody fire history recorded
In doing some research on what aspect of Peabody's fire history I wanted to write about, I came across the story of Wiley's Saloon. In 1876 it burned to the ground. It didn't come as much of a surprise to many in as much as Wiley had been alerted only the night before that it was a possibility given the intemperate nature of the establishment. Anyone know where the ladies of the Temperance Society might have been meeting that night?
One can picture brigades of citizens standing shoulder-to-shoulder passing buckets of water hand-to-hand from the closest water source to the person closest to the flames. Given that most of the first structures in Peabody were initially constructed of wood, everyone to a man, woman, or child understood that any fire had the potential to destroy the whole town and therefore required the whole community's efforts.
In 1884, a total of eight commercial buildings on the west side of Walnut Street were destroyed in a blaze that made it clear some changes had to be made. Commercial buildings in the downtown area of Walnut had to be constructed of masonry, a reliable water source had to be created, and a more organized approach taken toward the city's fire safety. Building ordinances were passed and, within a few days after the fire, the city approved the sale of bonds for the creation of Peabody's water works.
The future was here. In 1886 the Peabody Fire Department came into being as a volunteer entity. By 1890 it was briefly reorganized as a salaried department but presumable financial concerns necessitated it returning to volunteer status.
Fire has been a constant source of change in Peabody's downtown landscape. The building longtime Peabody residents knew as the KP&L building (now the Hub) sits on the site of two devastating fires (1888-1901). Sparks from a passing locomotive set the roof of the Commercial Hotel on fire. A fire in the Morse building (now the senior center) caused damage to the restaurant owned by Newton Davis. In the area of Santa Fe Park (1906-07) a fire destroyed Bragunier Hall and three storerooms of Homas Holler. In 1912, the Commercial Hotel burned down to only its facade and spread to Beeton Brothers Livery. Cockley's Bakery (now Stan and Jeanetta Farr's building) was destroyed by fire in 1945. The Gazette Herald building was heavily damaged in 1967 and the business was moved next door leaving the empty area which the new addition to Peabody Market now occupies. A fire destroyed the Masonic building (now the site of Grant Avery Park north of Peabody State Bank) in 1977. Peabody Hotel Apartments and Peabody Coin Laundry (2nd and Walnut streets) burned in 1984, leaving only the furniture from one apartment and one grateful cat rescued by a fireman. I expect few firemen will forget the 2006 spring grass fires. Nor should we forget them.
We, the citizens of Peabody, have a unique opportunity to help our fire department purchase a thermal imaging camera which you are going to hear a lot about in the coming weeks. The drive is on to raise funds for the camera through a variety of means — direct donation to the fund, free-will donation at a benefit supper/silent auction (June 10 at Peabody-Burns Elementary School multi-purpose room), or a donation of an item for the silent auction.
I'll leave you with this, if you found yourself suddenly in a room too smoky to see your hand in front of your face — too smoky to know which way to exit
— Dinah Richmond
