The Great Fire of Salem 1914

An introduction to the Great Fire of Salem of 1914 by Dr. Elizabeth Duclos-Orsello and Dr. Elizabeth Blood of Salem State University. Although no lives were lost, the fire destroyed buildings, displaced families, and changed lives. 


In the video clips below, taken from interviews conducted for the Franco-American Oral History Project at Salem State University, you will hear about how the fire impacted the lives of those in the Franco-American community.

Bob St. Pierre

Former Salem Chief of Police, Bob St. Pierre, recounts a story about what happened to his family during the Great Fire of 1914

May Pinault

Salem resident May Pinault tells a family story about the Great Fire of 1914

Jeannette Masse

Salem resident Jeannette Masse, next to her husband Leon, tells a family story about the Great Fire of 1914, when she was 1 year old

Georgette Pied

Salem resident Georgette Pied tells a family story about the Great Fire of 1914 (in French)

Orille L'Heureux

Salem resident Orille L'Heureux tells a  story about playing football on a field created by the Great Fire of 1914 (in French)

Armand Devoe

Former Salem resident Armand Devoe explains why mass was held in the basement of the St. Joseph's church when he was a boy

Armand Devoe

Former Salem resident Armand Devoe describes seeing the ruins of the 1914 St. Joseph's church demolished so that a new church could be built in 1948

Ray Tetrault

Former owners of Bernard's Jewelers in Salem, Ray and Tom Tetrault, explain how the Great Fire  changed their family history

Paul Bosse

Salem resident Paul Bosse describes a family story about the Great Fire