I

On March 14, 1966, a fire occurred at St. Mark's School during the night.  The fire was reported at 3:50 AM. All students were safely evacuated.  Mutual aid was called in from as far away as Natick to fight the fire.  Damage to the building was $1.2 million (1966) dollars.

The fire was contained by sunrise, however, it continued to burn under the school's observatory into the day.  

If you have any pictures of the fire, please contact the Chief.  

The following pictures are courtesy of the Southborough Public Library:

Fire burns well into the day around the observatory in the school's Science Wing.

Damage to the north side of the building. A pole ladder was thrown to the roof area while the observatory continues to burn to the left.

Firefighters climb Marlborough Fire Department's aerial ladder to access the burning observatory.

The ladder pipe from Marlborough's aerial ladder in operation on the south side of the building.

The ladder pipe is shut down

A Marlborough firefighter at the tip of the ladder.

Southborough Engine 22 pumping in the sports quad on the east side of the science wing.

Another shot of Engine 22, the 1958 Farrar/Diamond T

Smoke continues to billow from the observatory.

Firefighters use "big lines" (2 1/2") to hit the burning observatory.

Southborough's "Engine 24", a 1931 Ford Model T hose wagon and Westborough ladder.

People gathered well into the day to watch the fire continue to burn.

And students watched from the Elkins Gym.

Firefighters start to assemble a deck gun mounted to Engine 24 to reach the burning observatory.

The lines are connected.

And water starts flowing.

The day of the fire was a cold day as shown by the icicles on the engine and the firefighter's breath.

Water from Engine 24's deck gun reaches the observatory...

..and starts to make a difference...

...and more progress.

The observatory smolders after the firefight.

Another view from the opposite side of the building.

A view of the north west corner of the science wing.

A firefighter gets ready to hit the hot spots with the ladder pipe.

A mutual aid engine sits on the fireground.

The shell of the building approximately 10 hours after the fire was reported.

The remains of the science wing, the result of an arson fire.

Members of St. Mark's School and a sergeant from the Southborough Police Department.

The following pictures are from Department files: