Fires gut historic Washington public market, branch library with rare artifacts
WASHINGTON -- Two fires ravaged historic sites in the nation's capital Monday, one gutting part of the 134-year-old Eastern Market and the other destroying irreplaceable documents and art at the Georgetown public library branch.
Fire Chief Dennis L. Rubin said there was absolutely no suspicion that the fires were related.
The first blaze tore through the southern half of the Eastern Market, a Capitol Hill landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The city-owned building [a produce market with weekend flea market] was empty at the time and there were no injuries, Rubin said.
Hours later, a blaze rushed through the D.C. Public Library's Georgetown branch. The building, in the Georgetown National Register Historic District, was undergoing renovations. There were no injuries.
Many library employees cried at the sight of the flames, including Jerry McCoy, the archivist who oversees the Peabody collection of artifacts. "This is stuff nobody else has, not even the Library of Congress," McCoy said, weeping with his head against a tree.
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Fire Chief Dennis L. Rubin said there was absolutely no suspicion that the fires were related.
The first blaze tore through the southern half of the Eastern Market, a Capitol Hill landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The city-owned building [a produce market with weekend flea market] was empty at the time and there were no injuries, Rubin said.
Hours later, a blaze rushed through the D.C. Public Library's Georgetown branch. The building, in the Georgetown National Register Historic District, was undergoing renovations. There were no injuries.
Many library employees cried at the sight of the flames, including Jerry McCoy, the archivist who oversees the Peabody collection of artifacts. "This is stuff nobody else has, not even the Library of Congress," McCoy said, weeping with his head against a tree.
Related Links
A favorite D.C. food landmark suffers in fire (NPR story and audio) Peabody Room collection (DCPL)