Milton Historical Society’s new exhibit on 1909 fire opens Dec. 10

Milton’s Hottest Summer: The Great Fire of 1909, a new, self-guided exhibit at the Milton Historical Society, is set to open with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 10, at the Lydia B. Cannon Museum, 210 Union St. A ribbon cutting will take place at 6 p.m.

Visitors to Milton may note the scores of historic 19th century homes preserved along the residential stretches of the town’s streets. What may not register to the casual observer, though, is the different character of the buildings in the business district. Nothing from the 19th century survives there, because of a singular event: In the early morning hours of Aug. 13, 1909, Milton’s business district south of the Broadkill River was destroyed by a catastrophic fire.

The story of what transpired that fateful night, how people from Milton and neighboring towns tried to fight the blaze, the sensationalism of the national press coverage and the determined effort to rebuild, is recounted in Milton’s Hottest Summer: The Great Fire of 1909. This is the Milton Historical Society’s first new exhibit at the Lydia B. Cannon Museum since 2019, and with its opening, the society and the museum proclaim “We are back!” with a comprehensive look at a transformative event in the town’s history.

Much of the story of the fire is told through the words of a Milton journalist who witnessed it: David A. Conner. Visually, the photographs of Dr. William E. Douglas, an amateur shutterbug, depict the business district as it was before the fire, and in the aftermath of the catastrophe. Other contributions include photographs from the Milton Fire Department archives, and rarely seen pictures from the museum’s collection.  Perhaps the most unique aspect of the exhibit is in the collaboration between the society and members of the Milton Art Guild, who created 11 illustrations in various media depicting the one part of the fire’s timeline that was not recorded in photographs: the five hours that the business district was ablaze. The end result is an exhibit that organizers hope visitors will find exciting and informative. To schedule a visit,  contact the Milton Historical Society for operating hours at 302-684-1010.