Princeton Packet
10 May, 1988
Princeton Fire Department: in review
CHRONOLOGY
• 1764 – Nassau Hall. Minor damage.
• 1769 – March 9. Nassau Hall. Minor damage.
• 1773 – Jan. 22. Hudibras Tavern destroyed. Student fire brigade saved the adjoining buildings.
• 1777 – Mr. Sergeant’s new house and & Scudders Mill destroyed as result of raids by British soldiers. Jan 7.
• 1780 – Jan. 25. Presbyterian Church destroyed by the Loyalists.
• 1802 – March 6. Nassau Hall. Totally destroyed.
• 1808 – April 8. Properties of Messrs. Morford. Keen and Agnew destroyed.
• 1813 – Feb. Presbyterian Chards
• 1819 – Tavern of David Smith. Arson.
• 1821 – Morten. Second story and root (The A.H. Bill hone was called Morven.)
• 1835 – July 6 Presbyterian Clinch.
• 1837 – Jan. I. Tailor shop of Stryker & Conover adjoining J. Van Doren & Co.
• 1837 – Sept. 3. Roof of 4th house West of the Presbyterian Church next to the Printing office.
• 1839 – Feb. or March. Mr. Passages’ house on Nassau St.. next door to Mr. Homer’s printing shop.
• 1855 – Match 10. Nassau Hall destroyed.
• 1855 – June 21. Shop and foundry of Mr. John T. Primon destroyed.
• 1865 – July 20. Rectory of Trinity Church destroyed.
• 1865 – Aug. 2 – College gym destroyed.
• 1865 – Nov. 16-17. Several bonfires destroyed 3 barns near the Railroad station.
• 1866 – May 13. Dwelling fire in Queenston.
• 1866 . May 14. Unoccupied dwelling. Arson.
• 1866 – Barn Fire on Nassau Street.
• 1868. Sept. 29. Small arson fire, I. S. Vandenveer’s house, Mercer and Canal Sus.
• 1871 – July 17. Barn destroyed on Moore Street.
• 1871 – Fire near Railroad station. Nov. 2.
• 1871 -March 30. Large barn of Alexander Gary destroyed. A loss of over $4,500.
• 1873 – June 6. Roof and Third story of Beck house. Nassau and Charlton Straw.
• 1873 -June 16. Old colored school destroyed.
• 1874 – Jure 6. Mercer Hall. Upper halls and back.
• 1875 – Nov. 21. East College, joist between flue and ceiling.
• 1875 – Nov. 22 North College. Flue pipe
• 1876 – George Carson. Smoke house
• 1876 – April I. C. A. Tenors* Oil lamp exploded.
• 1877 – March 4. Hendrickson Stockton Street. Rear shed.
• 1885 – Feb. 7. Barn fire on Chambers Street.
• 1888 – Feb. 11. Kingston flour mill.
• 1899 – Jan. 19. Carpentry shop and barn on Chambers Street.
• 1899 – Feb. 21. Nassau and Witherspoon. Pharmacy and The First National Bank.
• 1903 – Branch’s Restaurant/ Odd Fellows Hall. Nov. 23.24.
• 1908 – Explosion at Gas Works. Feb. 19.
• 1908 – Feb. 21 . Drug Store at Nassau & Witherspoon. First National Bank damaged .
• 1909 – Jan. 23. Alhambra Hall fire -total of 10 buildings destroyed. Trenton fire department joined in fighting the blazes. Estimated losses of $75,000.
• 1913 – Jan. I. Alexander Hall. Destroyed a portion of the upper floor and belfry.
• 1915 – Jan. 9. Peacock Inn damaged. Heavy smoke damage.
• 1915 – Nov. 11. Engine Co. #3 answered call to Trenton for the Roeblin/Buckthorne fire. A $300,000 loss.
• 1920 -May 14-15. Dickenson Hall and Marquand Chapel destroyed.
• 1923 – Jan. 30. Main building Hun School damaged.
• 1924 – Jan. I. Princeton C[…] destroyed. (Now the site of Met Theme.)
• 1923 – Dec. 30. Illegal still exp […] on Mt. Lucas.
• 1925 -Old Washington Arms […] Nassau St. damaged.
• 1928 – Nov. 26. John C. Green Sc […] of Science.
• 1929 – Jan. 30. 21 structures on […] Street between Hanson and Hull destroyed. Had help from Trenton.
• 1929 -Nov. 20. Gym and hea[…] plant at Hun School destroyed.
• 1930 – University Press damage […] William and Charlton Sts.
• 1935 – May 20. Coal yards of […] over/Matthews and Grover/Gulick […] and Lumber Company. Burned for […] days at a loss estimated at closest […] $100,000.
• 1941 – April 20. Sent equipment […] 25 men to Lakewood.
• 1944 • May 4. University […] destroyed.
• 1948 – Feb. 10 All companies […] mutual aid to Trenton. Two buildings destroyed, four damaged at a loss of more than 1 million dollars.
Engine Company No.1 testing thier new American Fire Company’s steamer in front of Mercer Hall at the […] and Nassau Street. This building contained the town’s Mayor’s office and Council chambers.