In November of 1872 a massive fire destroyed most of Boston’s financial district, from Washington Street to the harbor. Starting in the basement of a commercial warehouse, it spread rapidly along narrow streets packed with wooden-roofed buildings. The fire department was hindered by inaccessible alarm boxes, low water pressure, and an equine flu that left them short of horsepower. Raging for about 12 hours, the Great Fire caused millions of dollars in damages and reshaped downtown Boston (plus fire codes everywhere) in ways that are still visible today.
In its aftermath, artists and photographers flocked to the so-called ‘Burnt District,’ capturing dramatic images of the ruins. Many photos were taken in newish-at-the-time stereoview: an early precursor to 3D movie technology—and the Viewfinder—in which two nearly identical images are viewed at the same time to create the illusion of dimension. We have some of these stereoview images in the studio with us, sparking a conversation about photography, flames, and urban renewal by way of disaster on this blazing new #brattlecast.