June 10, 2026 Submitted And Photo By Geri Duff
Hingham Cordage Company offices were at numbers 31 and 33 Commercial Street in Boston, the factory started by the Fearing and Whiton families was on Central Street in Hingham where Hingham Town Hall stands today. In 1865, there was a fire that destroyed most of the building.
The fire started in the 1,000 foot rope walk, spreading to the store house which contained a large supply of Manilla hemp. The brick building containing the spinning engine and most of the machinery was partially burned. As it fought the fire, the Extinguisher fire engine drew water from the stream on Central Street. The water you see on the left is a small brook running along where Burr Road is now.
The next day, after the fire, fish were found in the fire engine that were pulled in with the water. The Head House is all that remains of this complex today and the Extinguisher fire engine is in the Bare Cove Fire Museum where this photo is from.