Fire damages historical society in Harvard

By Anne Baker, Globe Staff

Firefighters battled a blaze this morning at the historical society in the town of Harvard, which is housed in a 176-year-old former church listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Flames at the white Gothic Revival building on Still River Road were reported at 8:25 a.m. in the town 35 miles northwest of Boston, according to a Harvard police dispatcher. The Harvard Historical Society operates out of the building.

The building is the former home of the Still River Baptist Church. The historical society has a large collection of local artifacts, including handbills, letters, diaries, furniture, household goods, costumes, farm implements tools, photographs, and maps.

The state fire marshal's office is investigating the cause of the fire.

State Fire Marshal Steve Coan said firefighters and workers did a good job of saving historical items and stopping the spread of the blaze, which broke out in the attic area. The flames were brought under control within an hour.

No injuries were reported.

"Fires burning in these old structures are hard to control,'' said Coan. "The firefighters made a good stop."

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