Fire has existed for millions of years and has been crucial to human evolution and survival. Since humans discovered how to create fire, it has captivated us. It serves as a source of warmth, lighting, cooking, and protection from predators, among other uses.

Who hasn’t found fire fascinating and mesmerizing? I’m sure many of us have been intrigued by fires at one time or another. Just sitting in front of a wood stove or fireplace can quickly enchant you with the dance of the flames.  A long-time firefighter once said, “One person’s loss and sorrow is another person’s thrill.” This captures one reason why firefighters are drawn to fire: besides saving lives and property, they possess the power to control something that seems so uncontrollable.

While science explains why fire captivates us, I want to focus on the fires that have engulfed and devastated our beloved Newport. If you have lived here long enough, I’m sure you can recall some of the significant ones: fires that consumed entire blocks, destroyed businesses, and impacted personal properties. Perhaps you remember the fire that destroyed your family’s cherished home or can recall the date of a tragic event, just like the day of President Kennedy’s assassination in 1963 or the day the space shuttle exploded with Christa McAuliffe aboard. More recently, there were the 9/11 attacks in Manhattan.

Here, I need your help. As a board member of the Newport Historical Society, preserving and promoting Newport’s history is very important to me. Within our organization, we house a significant collection of fire department records and photographs from the 1800s to the present. Among this treasure trove, generously donated by supporter and member Ed Karr, are meeting minutes, firefighter rosters, financial ledgers, and numerous vintage photos. Unfortunately, many of our images of fires are unidentified, often with only the pictured firefighter identified, lacking details on the fire’s location and date.

I am working on a project to identify these photographs for historical purposes and future reference. This will allow me to organize them better, making it easier for visitors and researchers to access this information.

If you can help, please reach out to me. I would love to meet you and hear your thoughts on the Newport fires. Our shared interest in local history brings us together, and hopefully, we can identify a photograph or two. Even if not, we are sure to make a valuable connection. I also encourage you to join our organization. If you haven’t already, please visit our Museum at Nettleton House.

You can reach me at april@rebelmetals.com or 603-381-4663. Alternatively, you can contact the museum directly. Several contact options for the Newport Historical Society can be found on our website.

-April Anderson

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This blog post contributed by April Anderson