Off the Bricks

The 1852 Hunt · STOP 07 · Downtown

The Great Fire was stopped at Washington and Milk, a short distance from Old South's door.

The Great Fire of 1872 stopped just short of the Old South Meeting House, where the Tea Party meeting was held. The legend credits one engine from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. A witness at the inquiry credited wet carpets on the buildings across Washington Street, and a postmaster who three times refused to blow the church up. Go see how close it got.

This is stop 7 of The 1852 Hunt. Walk it free in the app.

The plate

Where the Fire Stopped

Collected on site

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Corner of Milk Street and Hawley Street
Directions

1

The commission found 'the peril from the combustion of gas was increased by the manner of using gunpowder.' One witness put it the other way round: 'We could have done better with gunpowder, if it had not been for the gas.'

More footnotes on the story card, in the app.

Argue about it

Who saved Old South: one engine from Portsmouth, or a lot of wet carpets?

Both sides, with their sources, are on the story card in the app.

Legend busted, Then and now, Fire alarm box

In these collections: Legends Busted

Near Downtown Crossing · Near State · Near Government Center · Near Park Street · Near South Station · Near Chinatown

Sources (7)