The Burning of Chelsea by Walter Merriam Pratt

In spite of the fact that no municipality in the State ever had such a blow as Chelsea, which lost millions of taxable property and fully one third of its population, the city has a glorious future before it. Of this there is no doubt. It will be rebuilt, bigger and better in every way. It will be a different kind of a city, however. The conservative people, who have lived in their old houses year after year, although the environment about them had changed, will in many cases rebuild in different sections of the town. The old style of architecture will give way to the new. There will be a relocation of schools and churches, and the City Hall and other public buildings will be more conveniently located. Streets will be widened and laid out differently in many cases, and the old houses and buildings which had been remodeled into stores along Broadway will be replaced by fine business blocks of brick and concrete construction. Hardly had the smoke of the fire cleared away when the people turned their thoughts towards rebuilding.

Chelsea is the home of many able and influential people, representing large manufacturing, banking, political, and professional interests. These men, who had their business and property interests at stake, decided that to secure confidence in the city and rapid rebuilding was impossible under the existing city charter, but that if a board of five competent men were appointed by the governor and given the power of the mayor, Board of Aldermen and School Committee for five years, it would be possible. The appointment of such a board or commission, it was believed, would cut out all political strife. A bill was therefore introduced and at a hearing held on April 28 at the State House nearly all the prominent citizens were present. As a matter of record the following speeches are of interest, showing, as they do, the general feeling of the people.