If you enjoyed my last post, then you probably want to learn more about Bessie’s life. Bessie’s next diary entry was about a huge fire that occurred in Andover in 1896. I also found out more about her brother, Clarence.
May 18th 1896,
“Today all our woodland has turned up. Papa and Clarence went to fight the fire just after dinner and they came home , at five oclock, for they could not do anything. It is the worst forest fire that we have had in a great many years and it is thought that it can be traced to the railroad. Two houses were burnt. We had the washing done today and Mrs.Millet had to stay after the work was done for papa and Clarence had the horse and there was no way for her to get home. Most of the decratrims are up but this fierce wind is tearing them and blowing them down. ”
“The banquet tent has blown down and they are trying to put it up again. Papa has brought a flag and hung it in the attic window. Mary and Aunt Jane went to the tableaux with us tonight. We started at seven o’clock and if we had been a minute later we should have but the chance of a good seat. The tableaux were fine but the Indians were the best. ”
This is an image of Clarence and Bessie as children.
Bessie certainly had a lot going on today! That forest fire sure sounds awful! The Goldsmith’s home was not damaged but many other homes were damaged severely, and the event was mentioned in The Andover Townsman on May 22nd(1896). I am going to have to find out what tableaux are. I also found out more about Bessie’s brother , Clarence this week. Clarence appeared to have various important jobs, including being the engineer on “Boston’s Fine Fire Protection”, serving as a Colonel in world wars 1 and 2, and he was also the town’s first superintendent of water works.
