On the night of August 21, 1916, the Crystal Lake Icehouse was destroyed by fire with a loss totaling $7,000.
The property had been acquired by the Providence Ice company the previous winter, but had not been in use since then, and was empty and dry at the time of the fire. Two years earlier, new machinery and equipment, as well as upgrades and modifications to the structure had been completed.
The alarm was sounded on the Pocasset fire alarm system, but before long other fire companies from throughout the city were responding. When the Pocassets arrived, they found the nearest fire hydrant to be almost 2,000 feet away. The flames moved rapidly, and by the time hose was laid and water began to flow, it was obvious that the building could not be saved.
The glow of the fire was seen from a great distance, and firefighters did what they could to save other buildings from falling embers.
There were no reported injuries.
Source:
The Pawtucket Times, “Cranston Icehouse Destroyed By Fire”, August 22, 1916.