Oxford Street after ice storm, Portland, 1886
Item 6062 info
Maine Historical Society
"To add to the general discomfort the rain fell steadily, and the slush and water in the streets made the walking very disagreeable.
"In the harbor there was no sea, the water being quiet. It was quite thick outside.
"At about half-past nine last evening H.J. Butler, the fireman on the Grand Trunk shifting engine No. 10, discovered fire in the wooden building on central wharf, next below the store of W.S. Dana.
"Engineer Mitchell at once sounded an alarm on the whistle of his locomotive and an alarm was also rung upon one of the church bells.
"The building was occupied by Foss & Deering, wholesale grocers . . . When discovered the fire had evidently been under way for some time, and the interior of Foss & Deering's store was burning fiercely.
"The department responded to the alarm with commendable promptness, considering the fact that the alarm system could not be used and the almost impassible condition of the streets."
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