[bell clanging]
- "Betty" Billie Adler: Pretty much the entire business district
of Marshfield was destroyed in the fire.
A passing train threw sparks
that landed in the dry lumber in the yard.
That set the fire, and it just took off
and burned until there was almost nothing left.
A crowd had gathered at Mayor Upham's home.
He came out to speak to them.
"Friends," he said, "we've had a catastrophe.
"But we are all still here."
Mr. Upham turned to his friend Marshall Field for help,
which was given in the form of a $25,000 loan,
and started the rebuilding of the town
and giving employment to the people who decided
to remain here in light of that.
Otherwise, they would have had no place to work
and would have had to leave.
[gentle music]