What began as a small fire in the Lamson store in the center of Randolph’s downtown district, soon spread out of control on this day in 1884.

Randolph’s volunteer fire department, with their hand operated pumper, arrived within minutes. At first, it looked as though they might be able extinguish the flames using water available in underground cisterns. That was before the paints and oils in Lamson’s basement exploded into flames.

The great fire of 1884 would reduce nearly 30 buildings to nothing but cellar holes. Fire departments from Northfield, Bethel and South Royalton came by special trains to offer help.

Photograph courtesy Early Photographs of Randolph, Vermont by Wes Herwig.