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Before the Fire > The
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19th Century Media> Documenting
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Shock
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T.W. Tilton further wrote,
"Fire is sometimes a public blessing even
if it is a private calamity. I think it is clearly
so in this case… At the rate building has
progressed, we shall have a covering of the old
ashes in the shape of buildings-worth treble the
old rat dens." The Vineyard Haven "Great
Fire" of 1883 certainly affected hundreds
of people, but perhaps it was not such a huge
tragedy after all. Insurance protected some of
the ruined buildings' worth, and neighbors on
the Island helped to collect funds to cover the
rest. No one was killed in the fire. Positive
things actually came out of the ashes, including
a new start for many. Vineyard Haven itself received
a "new look;" while the other large
towns, such as Edgartown and Oak Bluffs have different-sized
buildings of varying dates, Vineyard Haven has
a concentration of storefronts with standard turn-of-the-century
architecture. In an established community, it
is unusual to see an entire 19th century business
district that was built simultaneously.
Main Street Circa 1900
In conclusion, the Vineyard
Haven fire helped to sculpt the town as it stands
today. Though earlier architecture and family
heirlooms were destroyed by the flames, an important
historical event in Island history was burned
into the memories of those who lived it.
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