Large Fire in Boston Loss of $250,000 — The Gerrish Market Building, at the junction of Portland and Sudbury streets was entirely destroyed by first last Saturday afternoon. It was a large brick structure, six stories high, occupied on the lower floor as a domestic market – second only to Faneuil Hall Market in extent. The upper stories were occupied by Messrs Sanborn, Carter & Bazin, book publishers, who employed about sixty hands, and who have lost $40.000 in stereotype plates, presses, paper &c.; Messrs. Barnard & Dillingham, furniture manufacturers; Messrs. A. & M. Lowe, piano-forte makers; A. H. Allen, cabinet furniture; Mrs. Bolles, sewing machines; Messrs, Boyce, Shore & Co., painters, and others………..The falling of the walls crushed two adjoining wooden buildings. The steam engine was brought out after the fire had made good headway, and proved to be very efficient.
(Liberator, April 18, 1856, pg3)
