Katherine Donahue was in her third floor, Montpelier apartment making the morning coffee on this day in 1906. That was before her oil stove exploded.

Donahue’s apartment was at the back of the Massucco block. She put water on for coffee and went to say good morning to her neighbors. Upon her return, thick, black smoke was pouring out from under her apartment door.

Firemen arrived quickly, extinguishing the stubborn oil fire in about two hours. Between the fire and water, damage was an estimated $6,000. The third floor and roof were burned, while the bottom two floors were soaked.

Photo courtesy the Vermont Historical Society.