The Somerville Journal, 5 October 1878
| Fire in West Somerville |
| A little before three o'clock on Monday morning last, fire was discovered in the two-story wooden building used as a pickle factory, on the corner of Elm street and Broadway, of this city. The building was the property of George R. Emerson, whose dwelling house is immediately adjacent, and the alarm was given by a domestic in the family who was alarmed by seeing the reflected light of the flames. It is said that the residence on the hill nearby saw the fire break out of the doomed building nearly three quarters of an hour previous to the discovery of the same by the servants, and why they made no attempts to communicate their knowledge does not appear. An alarm from the box at the corner promptly brought a portion of the Somerville Fire Department to the spot, but flames had already got under so good headway that all their efforts were of little avail, and the aid of the Medford department was called in. |
| Their united endeavors utterly failed, however, to save the building, which was burned to the ground. Fortunately, the wind was blowing away from the dwelling house and over the opening field; otherwise it is probable that the structure would have fallen a prey to the devouring element. The inmates were considerably alarmed as it was, and experienced something of a "house-warming." The principal business done here was in the line of canning tomatoes, etc., And some seventy persons were employed in the season. At the time of the fire, however, but comparatively few hands were under pay, the season being over. There were 75,000 cans of canned goods destroyed; but many of the cans have been taken from the ruins and stored. |
| The insurance on the works is $5,400, which is thought will fully cover all damages. Mr. Emerson states that the business will be resumed immediately, and the necessary apparatus has already been Located in a building near by on Broadway. No cause for the origination of the fire is given. |
The Arlington Advocate, 19 October 1878
| Wednesday afternoon the men engaged in getting out the gravel for the highways, at the town gravel pit, near Arlington Heights, undermined a large lot, as is the usual custom. Suddenly it became loosened and fell. All but one of the men got out of the way, but Michael Fermoyle was caught just below the knees, and one of his legs was so jammed against the screen at which he was at work as to break it very badly indeed. On examination it was deemed best to send him to the hospital, and he was taken to the Mass. Gen. Hospital early in the evening. |
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