Hampden County Newspaper Stories Fires/Flood/Weather Stories Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) March 17, 1824 Destructive Fire A fire broke out in the principal work shop of the United States Arsenal, in Springfield, Mass., a spark from the forging shop is supposed to have lodged on the roof of the long and spacious building which stood at a right angle with it, and was appropriated to various departments of work. The wind was very strong from the North and drove the flames with irresistible fury, lengthwise of the building. All efforts to save it were unavailing and the destruction of it was complete. It has not been ascertained what proportion of the contents of the building, such as tools, muskets finished and unfinished, and the various parts of arms, were destroyed, but the building itself was valuable and its loss will throw a large number of persons out of employment, a least for a season. [Submitted by Nancy Piper] ©2007 Genealogy Trails