The Year is 1908, Chelsea Massachusetts, Palm Sunday, April 12, the fire bells rang...a split second in time was all it took for my great grandparents, August and Christina Reekast and their eight children...August Jr, Nettie, Annie, John, Lillian, Lena, Ida and Teddy to lose everything. A Massive fire ripped through the City of Chelsea, Massachusetts, the flames, so intense, the glow was seen one hundred twenty miles away off the coast line of Maine. This monster was reported to have taken the lives of eighty-seven and left approximately eighteen thousand homeless. From that moment on, life as the Reekast family and all the citizen's of Chelsea, would never be the same. Flames of Chelsea ~ 1908 By Laura Thibodeau Jones AuthorHouse Copyright © 2014 Laura Thibodeau Jones All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4969-3356-0 Contents Acknowledgements, 2, Introduction, 4, Chapter 1 Chelsea Massachusetts ~ Time Line, 5, Chapter 2 Before the Fire, 7, Chapter 3 April Showers, 18, Chapter 4 Reports of Fire and Panic in the Streets, 30, Chapter 5 Homeless ~ but Not alone, 41, Chapter 6 Militia Called, 51, Chapter 7 Days that followed, 59, CHAPTER 1 Chelsea Massachusetts ~ Time Line The history of Chelsea Massachusetts, is quite impressive, located on a peninsula in Boston Harbor and dating as far back as the1600s ... the Massachusetts Indians owned the land and lived in as many as twenty villages in and around Boston Harbor. In 1624, the English influence began in Chelsea, when an Englishman named Samuel Maverick settled in what was then called Winnisimmet ~ 'meaning ...' "good spring nearby." and owned by the children of Nanepashemet ... Sagamore John (Wonohaquaham), Sagamore James (Montowompate) and Sagamore George (Wenepoykin). Samuel Maverick and his brother, Elias, along with Robert Arnold and William Stitson were named as the earlier settlers in Winnisimmet. Winnisimmet was composed of, Chelsea, Winthrop, Revere and Saugus. Samuel Maverick built the first house in 1625 ... said to be a fortified (fortify ... to protect or strengthen against attack) house near the waters' edge and the Chelsea bridge. This was the first house in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and was reported to have still been standing in 1660s, however, one account rumored, as late as the revolution. Maverick acquired Winnisimmet through trades with the Indians, which was documented as some five thousand acres of land. Samuel Maverick (Mavericke) married the widow of David Thompson in 1628 owner of (now) Thompson and Noodle Island (now Logan Airport). Upon Thompson's death, his wife Amias and only son, inherited all of his possessions. Winnisimmet was sold to Governor Richard Birmingham by Maverick, keeping only, his house and farm land ... Birmingham became Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony ... he also built a home, which he named The Carey House ... The Carey House still stands today. In 1738, Winnisimmet was separated from Boston, and incorporated as the town of Chelsea. The population in Winnisimmet ~ Chelsea, also known as Rumny Marsh was as follows; 1765 ~ 462 1790 ~ 472 1800 ~ 849 1830 ~ 770 In 1831, eight people (individuals) bought the land and the ferry franchise, by 1833, the population began to increase as the Winnisimmet Company was incorporated. By 1840, the population grew to 2,182 ... 1846 ... the towns were separated as, North Chelsea and Winthrop. The population in 1850 was 6,151, 1860, 13,395, and by 1865, 14,403. In 1857, it was incorporated a city. The earlier settlers noted Chelsea to be a "Very sweet place ... for situation, and stands very commodiously." The Boston Harbor Islands were known for keeping off the winds and sea, tempering the winters and water of the bay mitigating the heat of the summer. Therefore, a very desirable place to settle. CHAPTER 2 Before the Fire Life before the fire in Chelsea Massachusetts, seemed to be a place full of hope, even in this historically over populated small city. The businesses and trading industries of rubber and rags, shoes and stores upon stores was seemly booming. Yes, no doubt, there were struggles, but life for face value seemed normal. Chelsea, a city established in the early 1600s, by all accounts was new and upcoming in the mid-1800s. The names of her first settlers were memorialized in the center square and in streets names. Old landmark homes were still in tack and seemed to be honored for it. By the late 1800s Chelsea had a diverse mix of citizens. Immigrants from all walks of life, settled here and were attempting to build the American dream. It has been said the "upper class" wealthy names in the city, began to leave this increasingly desired sea side village, they were not willing to except the changes to their once loved home. The city was nicknamed "dead as Chelsea." Citizens were determined to change the rumors, as Chelsea at one time had a colorful and rich reputation of well-to-dos, from lawyers, actors, politicians, b