In the early morning hours of October 24, 1928, a fire raged through McDonogh School’s main building, known as “New House.” According to numerous newspaper accounts, the fire started in the linen room in the basement of the building’s west wing. Believing the fire was contained to the west wing, some faculty and older students entered the other dormitories and salvaged students’ clothing by throwing it out of the second and third-story windows, other groups saved books from the library, the school papers, the safe, and valuable portraits from the first floor.” However, unbeknown to all, the basement of the building was ablaze and the flames swept up an air shaft to the roof engulfing the center of the building. The ceiling caved in and flaming debris rained down. Nine hours after the fire was discovered, firemen still were pumping water into the structure to prevent the blaze from possibly spreading to the gymnasium and cottages surrounding the building. Thankfully, no one was injured and students did not miss a day of school. Read more on pages 38-39 in the Winter 2019 issue of McDonogh Magazine.
New House Fire – 1928
