1872 newspaper SEA VIEW HOUSE OPENS MARTHA'S VINEYARD Mass EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT

Description

1872 newspaper with a long and detailed back-page headline eyewitness account of the opening of the famed resort, 'SEA VIEW HOUSE' on MARTHA'S VINEYARD, Massachusetts -
#1V-049
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SEE PHOTO-----COMPLETE, ORIGINAL NEWSPAPER, the Evening Bulletin
(Providence, RI) dated July 26, 1872, with fantastic Martha's Vineyard history!  The Sea View House was THE place to be, catering to the rich and famous and was instrumental in the Vineyard's post Civil War tourism boom.
It burned down just 20 years later in 1892
.
Perfect for framing and display!
At 11.45 on Saturday night, September, 1892, watchman Lewis rung in the alarm from box 41, at the Arcade, and people jumped from their beds and rushes to the windows and saw, with dismay, the eastern sky brilliantly illuminated, directly over the Sea View House. Cries of “Fire!” “Fire!” “The Sea View House!” “The Sea View House!!” rent the stillness of the night, the light in the heavens contrasting vividly with the darkness, the sky being overcast with heavy clouds, from which at times the rain descended, as if weeping in sorrow over the awful catastrophe.
Soon the streets were alive with men, women, and children, who hurried to the scene and beheld the beautiful structure which, ever since its erection, twenty years ago, has been one of the centers of attraction to the summer visitor and our resident population; in fact of interest to those living in other towns on the Island – grandly illuminated from one end to the other. Only those arriving within a few minutes of the alarm were in time to see the building before the north end fell in, the flames being under full headway before the fire was seen.
The flames did their work rapidly about the centre of the building and soon the tall chimney, from which the woodwork had fallen, stood for a few seconds alone, like a sentinel looking down upon the awful destruction; then it was seen to tremble and topple over, then settle down, down, into the burning, seething mass below. Meanwhile the flames had taken full possession of the south tower, and as its windows, from top to bottom showed forth the awfulness of the demon within, no such magnificent sight was ever seen in this town. The fire now began to come through the roof in little jets and run along the fancy woodwork across the roof of the tower and about the balconies, which soon fell. The flames then burst forth and the whole tower, inside and out, was one grand mass of fireworks. Soon those watching saw that its foundations were burned out, and the roof fell with the rest into the flaming vortex beneath.
While this scene was transpiring the firemen were working with a will to save Casino, the Sea View Annex and the surrounding property. The Episcopal church was so hot that the water thrown upon it rose in columns of steam. It was almost impossible for the men to stand where they could put the streams on the Annex, and Mr. Sherman T. Meara's presence of mind is due to the fact that a temporary protection was raised of board shutters, which shielded the men from the heat of the flaming mass, behind those boards they were able to stand and keep the streams constantly playing on the Annex. Another company of firemen were trying to save the Casino, but could not reach the side toward the water on account of the intense heat caused by the burning wharf and buildings there on. The telegraph and ticket offices, and the covered walk and roof over the wharf were now one grand carnival flame. At this time the corner of the Casino, near the ticket office at the head of the wharf, took fire, and for a time it seemed as if no earthly power could save it; but the fire engineers worked on, ably supported by the faithful firemen, and the fire in the Casino was finally extinguished. The flames burned out the north end, and the arches and woodwork inside are black and charred. The iron roof remains, but what is left of the woodwork is only good for kindlings. The beautiful flags which adorned the interior of the rink are gone, and but two of the hundreds of Japanese lanterns which adorned the interior of this immense structure remain to tell the story of its former glory. Standing at the south end of the Sea View House a view of the whole scene was obtained, showing the burning mass of the famous hotel, the wharf, on fire its entire length with its roof and buildings, and on the north end the flaming Casino. It was a sight which will never be forgotten.
Very Good Condition.
This listing includes the complete entire original newspaper.
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