In Salisbury, a town of around 500 people on Maryland's Eastern Shore, a fire broke out in a building on the main street. Despite the efforts at fire fighting, the blaze quickly spread until almost the entire town had been burned to the ground. More than forty buildings, all the town records, the Episcopal church, and even the town's fire engine, were completely destroyed. No deaths or serious injuries were reported, however. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
"Town of Salisbury, MD; Almost Destroyed by Fire," New York Times, August 8, 1860.