The Town was aroused by a spectacular blaze on Tuesday morning at 2:30 o'clock which destroyed the Fairview Hotel, a summer resort at North Stoughton, owned by Harris Press and valued at about $20,000, with contents which were aim a total loss. The hotel stood on a commanding hill and the Barnes as they enveloped the big building, lit up the country for miles around and caused great alarm and excitement in Town. The story of the fire, as told by Mr. and Mrs. Press, is that it was first discovered by their hired 'man, "John," who slept down stairs. He was awakened by the sound of an explosion and the lire was then spreading fast throughout the building as he ran upstairs and aroused his employer. So rapidly did the Barnes spread, as told by Hr. Press, that it became necessary for him to escape from the second story by sliding down a rope to the ground, and so close were the flames to him that he had his hair singed ere be escaped. Mrs. Press had escaped early by the stairs. Mr. Press ran into the street and to a neighbor's house whence a telephone message was sent to Town for the Fire Department.

There was a long wait before the message was received in the local office. Some say it was fully a quarter of an hour before they could get "Central," but when the message was received by Fred Pye he lost no time in pulling in an alarm from Box 58. His father. Officer James J. Pye, saw the light of the fire in the east and went to the engine room to call "Central" to ask if it knew where the fire was just as the tapper sounded the alarm. The run to North Stoughton was made in record time. When the fire boys reached there the entire building was a mass of flames and the roof had fallen in. Good work was, however, done in saving the barn with live stock, and also a dancing pavilion located some two hundred feet from the hotel. The loss on the building and contents is estimated at $20,000, with insurance over $14,000.

Hr. Press was the owner of the hotel and has built up a large business in caring for the wants of summer boarders among the richer class of Hebrews from all ever New England. He intended -to open for the season, May 30th, and bad many engagements of rooms for the season. In preparation for the, opening, Mr. Press had done more painting and repairing, and was prepared for a big and prosperous season.

The Stoughton firemen did good work. Hose was connected with the hydrant at the corner of Pleasant and Turnpike streets, some 300 feet distant, and need directly on the burning building. Others with extinguishers

followed up the brands that fell in the woods and grass and protected the trees in the vicinity of a small hen-house, the home of five biddies who had sought safety in the branches of neighboring trees.

After arousing Mr. Press, the hired man ran to the stable and released the cattle and dog, ran out tbe carriages, but, as it happened, the, building was only scorched. 

The fire was seen some time before the alarm was sounded. Francis Mead, of North Stoughton, who was awakened by the glare of the burning building, stated he tried for several minutes to get the telephone exchange before he was successful. That the fire had been burning some time before the alarm came in was the statement of several who had noticed it and had wondered where it was.

Mr. and Mrs. David W. Rumrey, of 956 Pleasant street, several hundred feet distant, took Mrs. Press in as soon as they were awakened, and later Mr. Press was cared for. 

Source: Stoughton News-Sentinel, 23 May 1914, p. 1

Photo courtesy of the Stoughton Historical Society from a glass plate negative

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