Belfast in Waldo County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)
The Great Conflagration / La grande conflagration
Belfast, Maine
— The Museum in the Streets —
Photographed By James True, May 29, 2012
1. The Great Conflagration Marker
Belfast artist William M. Hall's drawing of the "Great Conflagration" was published in Harper's Weekly magazine a week after the fire. At 10:30 on the night of October 12, 1865 a fire that started on the waterfront rapidly spread. Despite valiant efforts by the fire department, by next morning the inferno had leveled one hundred twenty-five buildings in a twenty-acre section of downtown. The following year, the City passed an ordinance prohibiting the building of wooden structures in the downtown area. In 1873 another fire at one of the wharfs spread quickly throughout the same district burned earlier. This time, the blaze extended into the residential district as far as High Street and unfortunately caused one death.
Erected 2004 by The Museum in the Streets®. (Marker Number 24.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Disasters. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets®: Belfast, Maine series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 12, 1920.
Location. 44° 25.691′
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Captain Albert W. Stevens / Le Capitaine Albert W. Stevens (a few steps from this marker); The Finest and the Fastest / Le plus rapides et les plus racés (within shouting distance of this marker); Making a Living / Gagner sa vie (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Circus Comes to Town / Le cirque arrive ! (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Oldest Manufacturer / Le plus ancien fabricant (approx. 0.2 miles away); Broiler Capital of the World / Capitale du poulet rôti (approx. 0.2 miles away); On this site (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Windsor Hotel / L'Hôtel Windsor (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Belfast.
More about this marker. Marker #24 (of 30) in "The Museum in the Streets". The text on the Marker is in English, followed by a French translation.
Photographed By James True, May 29, 2012
2. The Great Conflagration Marker
Photographed By James True, September 1, 2012
3. The Great Conflagration Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2012, by James True of Newark, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 561 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 16, 2012, by James True of Newark, New Jersey. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
