Portland Public Library

The night the sky turned red:, the story of the Great Portland Maine fire of July 4th, 1866, as told by those who lived through it, by Allan M. Levinsky ; with a foreword by Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 72-73)

illustrations

no index present

non fiction

The night the sky turned red:

bibliography

889737829

by Allan M. Levinsky ; with a foreword by Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr

the story of the Great Portland Maine fire of July 4th, 1866, as told by those who lived through it

"July 4, 1866, and the population of Portland, Maine, was just beginning to recover after the Civil war. The weather had been very warm and dry, and everyone was looking forward to celebrating. There were many activities scheduled to keep the celebrants entertained, everything from a parade to the best fireworks display ever. The city was overflowing with visitors from all around the state and business was brisk. Little did the crowds know what fate had planned on that festive day. Late that afternoon, a young boy casually lit a firecracker in front of a woodworker's shop and, not thinking, tossed the explosive into the shop's yard covered with dry wood shavings. The result was the largest urban fire in the history of the United States to that time. . .Tells the story of this great conflagration through the eyes and voices of those who lived through one of the country's greatest disasters.", -- from the publisher

Foreword -- Prologue -- Birthday celebration -- Sound the alarm -- The fate of a young boy -- The Sugar House melts -- The Chief Engineer reports -- Another eyewitness view -- Mr. Sterling's ordeal -- Panic sets in -- The poet's sister -- The general and the Sugar House -- View from the house of the dead -- The mayor speaks -- Aftermath -- Reconstruction -- Appendix A: list of streets, buildings and businesses destroyed -- Appendix B: large blocks and public buildings destroyed