Title

A Short Address, Delivered before the Sufferers by the Late Fire in Wiscasset and Alna, at their meeting January 18, 1824, to Express their Gratitude for Donations made for their relief, to which are Added Several Exhortations, and the Lord's Prayer, Paraphrased

Authors

Hezekiah Packard

Files

Description

According to the Portland Gazette, Sept. 16, 1823, over 26 square miles of land encompassing the communities of Wiscasset and Alna, Maine were scorched by a firestorm the afternoon of Sept. 4, 1823, resulting in over $250,672 in damages (approximately $5.8 million in 2018 USD). In addition to two deaths, the region lost 32 homes, 37 barns, 437 head of stock, 3 school houses, a tannery, a gristmill and a sawmill. Over 277 inhabitants were impacted between the two towns. Local authorizes estimated the value of lost property at $50,672 and the value of lost timber and crops at $200,000.

Within hours of the fire, Rev. Hezekiah Packard of Wiscasset, began penning missives to his associates throughout New England, seeking contributions to support fire victims. Articles about the fire and soliciting support appeared in newspapers in Massachusetts, Vermont, and Connecticut.

Rev. Packard spoke at a meeting of fire survivors on January 18, 1824, encouraging residents to rebuild and move forward. The text of Packard's sermon includes his eye-witness, albeit melodramatic, account of the fire. By April 1824, Rev. Packard announced that $21,505.64 in donations was received for distribution to fire victims.

Rights and Access Note

Rights assessment remains the responsibility of the researcher. No known restrictions on publication. For information about the process and fees for obtaining higher resolution scans or another file format, contact Special Collections.

Publication Date

1-1824

Publisher

Joint Committee

City

Wiscasset (?), Maine

Keywords

Wiscasset Maine, Fire 1823

Disciplines

United States History

Comments

Pamp 1009

Recommended Citation

Packard, Hezekiah, "A Short Address, Delivered before the Sufferers by the Late Fire in Wiscasset and Alna, at their meeting January 18, 1824, to Express their Gratitude for Donations made for their relief, to which are Added Several Exhortations, and the Lord's Prayer, Paraphrased" (1824). Maine Bicentennial. 80.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mainebicentennial/80