The Great Fall River fire of 1928 occurred on February 2–3, 1928 and destroyed a vast portion of downtown Fall River, Massachusetts. Although the city has had many other large fires, both before and after, the 1928 conflagration is generally considered the worst in the city's history, since it destroyed so many businesses at a time when the city's economy was already struggling from recent textile plant closings. By the time the fire was out, five city blocks were completely wiped out. Fortunately, no one was killed and only a few people suffered serious injuries.
At 5:45 p.m. on February 2, 1928, the fire broke out in Mill No. 2 of the Pocasset Manufacturing Company on Pocasset Street. It was a bitter cold evening and demolition workers had been dismantling the recently shuttered mills. The flames spread quickly through the mill complex. Within an hour, Fire Chief Jeremiah F. Sullivan sounded three alarms and called for outside help. By about 7:00 p.m. fire apparatus and departments from surrounding towns and as far away as Boston and Lowell would arrive to provide assistance.
A brisk southwest wind caused the flames to cross Central Street and hampered fire suppression. The wind shifted again to the west, spreading the fire across North Main Street. The wind shifted again to the northwest and drove the fire across Bedford Street. Temperatures hit a record low mark for the season, causing the fire hoses to freeze and hampering the efforts of the firemen.
At 2:30 a.m. the fire was declared under control. City Hall was damaged but had been saved. Various buildings in scattered sections of the area were still burning though.
It was not until Saturday noon, nearly two days after its start, that the fire was officially declared out. Police, National Guardsmen and Naval Reservists also provided assistance with securing the fire damaged areas.
Total damage was estimated at $20,000,000, although the actual amount was widely disputed by local businessmen. The cause of the blaze was determined to have started with a spark from a Salamander heater being used by the demolition crew to keep warm.
Within just a few years, many of the banks and commercial businesses were rebuilt, including the Granite Block, at the heart of the business district.
Five banks, three theatres, three hotels, two newspaper plants, twelve office buildings, a Jewish temple and a half dozen lunch rooms were destroyed.
Union Savings BankCitizens' Savings BankMassasoit-Pocasset BankMetacomet National BankFall River Co-operative BankRialto TheaterPremier TheatreMohican Theater CompanyMohican HotelWilbur HotelBay State Boarding HouseWilbur HouseFall River Globe Newspaper BuildingOld Herald-News BuildingL'Independent Publishing companyRemington BuildingBennett BuildingGranite Block BuildingPocasset Mill BuildingMiller BuildingTelephone Company BuildingKresge CornerBuffington BuildingTalbots Clothing StoreO'Neil Hardware StoreBeth-El SynagogueCentral Police StationBus TerminalCity HallArmoryThe Fall River Daily Globe
United Cigar Store.Pen and Pallette, commercial artistsService Printing CompanyThomas G. Barious company, restaurantConos Brothers, confectioneryEdwin J. Mills, deputy sheriffEugene S. Sullivan, deputy sheriffFall River Real Estate associationAlbert A. Belanger, publisherFrank Amber, barberHerman J. Legare, auctioneerCharles S. Graham, auctioneerJ. H. Hickey, real estate and insuranceMargaret I. Howarth, lawyerGraham Loan companyLake Mailing company, office suppliesThe Exchange, real estateWalker Typewriter companyCook-Taylor Inc., mill suppliesCash Brothers, Inc., roofersLuxor Cab companyE. V . Cloutier, chiropodistCobb, Bates and Yerxa company, grocersBaldwin's Credit ExchangeAlice Botway, dressmakerHerbert A. Borden, stationer.Brown company, druggistsGeorge Collias, bootblackEastern Massachusetts Street Railway company information bureauCentral News and Delicatessen companyMohican Drug Company, Inc.Pacific Oil companyDurfee and Canning companyEagle restaurantCity News company, news-dealersMajestic restaurantC. Warburton and Sons, floristsCrystal restaurantThe Norfolk Hosiery companyJoseph M. Madowsky, news agentAmerican Optical companyAnthony Brothers, music publishersDana C. Everett, cotton brokerMcCartys' band and orchestraFall River Publicity Bureau, publishersC. E. Gifford and company,jewelersAstor LunchMassachusetts Income tax officeIncome Tax AssessorsFall River Historical SocietyAetna Life Insurance CompanyFall River Board of UnderwritersNew England Insurance ExchangeTroy Co-operative bankHathaway and Company, cottonBryant Chapin, artistGagnon Printing companyAnn's Kitchen, restaurantChecker Taxi companyFall River Navigation Company, Inc.Western Union Telegraph CompanyStaples Coal Company of Fall RiverU.S. Naval ReservesThe Munroe Press, printersBurroughs Adding Machine CompanyJohn Hancock Mutual Life Insurance companyCotton Manufacturers association.New York Life Insurance CompanyFall River Granite & Quarry CompanyJames Buffington, cotton clothAldrich & Hawkins, cottonBaldwin-Lesser Company cottonEdward T. Robertson & Son, cotton controllersUniversal Thrift Stamp CompanyFall River Blue Print companyFlossie's Kitchen, restaurantFall River Poster Advertising companyBoston AmericanBoston AdvertiserProvidence JournalMcDermott Lunch company.City building department, garageSmith Oil company, Inc., filling stationStandard Vulcanizing company
