On January 29, 1925, the Hotel Coolidge in White River Junction burned to the ground. The fire was discovered around 5:00 in the evening. Local and neighboring fire departments all rushed to the scene, but the fire was spreading too quickly for the firemen to bring it under control.

As dawn broke, only chimneys were visible above the rubble of the 200 room guest house. Clearing the debris and reconstruction began almost immediately.

A rebuilt, scaled-down Hotel Coolidge would be operating by summer. During the course of the next year, distinctive architectural flourishes and another floor were added to the new Hotel Coolidge.

Both photos courtesy An Album of the Town of Hartford, Vermont 1761-1969 by John W. St. Croix.