Thanks to Geri Cyr for the clipping above.
The first alarm for the fire was called in at 2 pm on March 20, 1937. There was another call at 9:10 pm. The next day the fire department was called to return at 5:30 am and 2:10 pm. The last three calls were for “hay burning.”
The barn was on land that is now part of the Hopedale Country Club. When I spoke with Frances (Westcott) Rae some years ago, she told me that the Westcotts had owned two farms. One was where Laurelwood is now, and the other was where the golf course is. She said the one where the golf course is was called the Red Farm. The red barn was on one side of Mill Street and there was a red house across the street from it. At some point, the Howard family bought the Red Farm. They also had a home and greenhouses near Route 140 and Howard Street where they grew carnations.
