Page:History of Gardner, Massachusetts (1860) - Glazier.djvu/124

120 had left shavings so near the fire-place, that on going out, the wind took them to the fire, thus communicating the flames to the building with such rapidity that there was no chance to save it.

1810. In the spring of the year, a house belonging to Capt. Ezekiel Howe was struck by lightning: there had been quite a shower of rain a little while before; Mr. Howe was coming towards the house when it was struck, and remarked "that the electricity had the appearance of live coals thrown from the roof." The house was not burned, but so shattered, that he built a new one; the furniture was upset, and the crockery thrown from the shelves and broken. A loaded gun standing in the house was discharged by the electricity.

1813. The card shop of Josiah Wilder, Jr. was destroyed by fire. Also, a dwelling-house belonging to Aaron Pratt.

1827. In February, a chair shop of James M. Comee was burned.

1829. A grist mill belonging to Capt. William Bickford, (where C. J. and O. A. Travers' chair shop now stands,) was burned.

1834. In June, the dwelling-house of Seth Whitney took fire upon the roof, and was destroyed. In October, a chair shop belonging to