Library of Congress Fire
Dec. 25, 1851
The Library of Congress fire that happened last night was devastating. The fires caused a lot of damage in the main library. The blaze from Independence Avenue and First Street could be seen from half-mile away. No one knows what time the fire started, but many suspect it started around midnight. The firefighters are still looking about the area, trying to find the cause of the fire. No one really knows what, or if it was who, why the fire was started.
This fire has caused much damage. It has destroyed about two-thirds of the fifty-five thousand volumes. It almost completely destroyed Thomas Jefferson’s private section of the library, which was sold to the library not forty years ago. As of now Thomas U. Walter, the architect of the building, has been asked to supervise it’s rebuild. In response to the tragic happenings, he has made a new design for the building. For the first time in America, Walter’s new design is made with an iron ceiling in the gigantic center room. Also, many more new things have been planned to be incorporated such as cast iron bookcases and balconies.
Many people who work at the Library of Congress are devastated about the damage. They will not be able to work for about one year. Also those who frequently use the library are outraged because of this unfortunate incident. The Library of Congress will not be officially opened again for one year and 3 months. The President will also be speaking about the fire in the next week. All out devastated about the tragic happenings that because of the fire.