On June 25, 1914, a fire that started at the Korn Leather Factory on
Boston Street in Salem, Massachusetts, quickly spread through the city,
"sweeping all before it." By the time it was extinguished early the
following morning, it had burned 253 acres, destroyed 1,376 buildings,
and caused millions of dollars worth of damage. Of Salem's 48,000
population, 20,000 people lost their homes. For months, tent cities on
Bertram Field at the high school, on Salem Common, and in Forest River
Park housed those who were made homeless. Arthur B. Jones, member of
Salem's Hose Company Number 2, published his account of the great fire
later the same year. The book is illustrated with 43 historic black &
white photographs.