The Chemical Building was entirely destroyed on the evening of December 24, 1909. The fire was first discover at about 6:45 pm, but the first alarm was not turned in until shortly before 7 pm by Grocer Flynn. There was no one in the building and as far as can be ascertained, it started either in the south end of the east wing or in the north end of the main hall on the second floor. When first noticed the flames had gained a good start and owing to the highly flammable nature of the contents of the building they spread so rapidly that nearly the whole interior was on fire before anyone arrived on the scene. Nothing whatever was saved. By the time the fire department arrived the fire had gained such headway that nothing could be done but prevent it from spreading. The firemen were further hampered by the fact that one of the hydrants at the corner of the campus was frozen and very little water was available. The conflagration was highly spectacular, the flames being accompanied by a constant series of explosions of more or less violence as the fire reached the various chemicals. Several times windows were blown out while one explosion took off the entire roof and another, probably from the store rooms blew out the west wall. Fortunately the wind was from the north west at the time of the fire so that the only other building endangered was the Library. A constant shower of burning brands fell on the Library roof, but these were extinguished as fast as they came and the danger was finally averted. Had the wind been from any other quarter it is very probable that the fire would have spread, as on all of the other three sides of the Laboratory were buildings much closer to it than the Library. Even as it was most of the outer windows of the Engineering Building were cracked by the heat. The fire was of comparatively short duration and the building was soon completely gutted, leaving all but the west wall still standing. Most of the south and east walls were later torn down but the north wall still remains in place. As to the origin of the fire nothing definite is known, but the general theory is that it was the result of short circuiting of some pf the electric light wires. This theory is quite plausible as the steam fitters had been at work making connections for the new laboratory which was being built between the wings of the old one and they might easily have disarranged or rubbed the insulation off some of the wires. The total loss probably amounted to nearly $85,000. The building itself was valued at $55,000 while the apparatus and supplies invoiced at nearly $30,000.