The Salem Fire

On June 25, 1914, a fire that started at the Korn Leather Factory on Boston Street in Salem, Massachusetts, quickly spread through the city, "sweeping all before it." By the time it was extinguished early the following morning, it had burned 253 acres, destroyed 1,376 buildings, and caused millions of dollars worth of damage. Of Salem's 48,000 population, 20,000 people lost their homes. For months, tent cities on Bertram Field at the high school, on Salem Common, and in Forest River Park housed those who were made homeless.

Arthur B. Jones, member of Salem's Hose Company Number 2, published his account of the great fire later the same year. The book is illustrated with 43 historic black & white photographs.