Lost to Fires
How many remember homes, businesses, churches - all gone to fire?
We can speak of the recent fires of Turn Verien Hall and the Market Street fires of affordable housing - but we have lost so many churches, commercial buildings, homes, apartments, vacant structures, schools to fire.
Bruce School Fire-1951
My earliest interest in history in Lawrence was the loss to fire of the Alexander B. Bruce school in 1951.
This Ames Street School with a dominant location and attractive architectural style was located quite near Engine 8 firehouse on Ames Street. The school's bell tower was another landmark on Tower Hill.
My brother attended the last class at the old school which was replaced by the current AB Bruce School on Butler Street that I attended .
I do not have a photo, but just wanted to mention a loss of a historic building in my own neighborhood.
Linda Siegenthaler
Postcard of Bruce School mailed in 1910
Market Street Fires
In January 2008, there was a terrible fire in Lawrence that terrified the neighborhood and destroyed new construction being built for Habitat for Humanity. Read the story and see additional links to the story about Market Street
Merrimack Paper
The unoccupied Merrimac Paper Company, once one of many paper companies located in Lawrence, burned on November 6-7, 2009. The structure is located on the South Canal in Lawrence.
Maurice Dorgan writes in Lawrence Yesterday and Today, 1918: "Merrimack(sic) Paper Company - Established in 1895; manufactures paper of all kinds; weekly output, 125 tons; employs, 275; weekly payroll, $5,000.00; assessed valuation of property for 1917 $295,400"
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Below is an image from the 1896 Atlas of Lawrence, Plate 12
Turn Verien Hall, Lawrence, MA
Read about Turn Verein Hall, German Community Center, central to so many lives in Lawrence that burned in January 2008. This hall was rebuilt more than once - with fire destroying it for the final time on 2008.