Harvard Fire
Cambridge, MA
January 24, 1764
During the wind and snow of a nor'easter on the night of January 24, 1764, fire broke out at Harvard Hall in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The fire is believed to have started in a beam under the hearth in the library, and spread throughout the four-story building from there, reducing it to ruins. It was vacation time and very few students remained, which is why the fire was not discovered sooner. Two of the college's engines were used to fight the fire, but soon became useless. An engine from Cambridge was brought to fight the flames. The wind driven flames caused cinders to fall and fire to break out on the roofs of Stoughton Hall and Massachusetts Hall. The new Hollis Hall was on the windward side of the blaze, but also caught fire from the heat. Those buildings were saved by firefighting efforts, with the destruction being kept to Harvard Hall. The library contained above five thousand volumes, all which were consumed, except a few books in the hands of the members of the House. A lot of scientific equipment was also destroyed, including the Governor Winthrop Telescope. Some students who had chambers in the Hall also lost personal property. |
