In October, the Stoneham Historical Society & Museum welcomes back noted Boston historian Anthony Sammarco, speaking on the Fire that Reshaped Boston: the Boston Fire of 1872.

The Fire laid waste to large parts of downtown Boston ranging almost all the way from the Boston Common to the Harbor.  The fire killed 20 people, destroyed 775 buildings and caused millions of dollars in damage to Boston’s commercial section. The conflagration ranks among the most destructive fires in American history

Anthony Mitchell Sammarco is a noted historian and author of over sixty books on the history and development of Boston, and he lectures widely on the history and development of his native city. He commenced writing in 1995, and his books Lost Boston, The History of Howard Johnson’s: How A Massachusetts Soda Fountain Became a Roadside Icon, and The Baker Chocolate Company: A Sweet History are among his many books that have made the bestsellers list.

Mr. Sammarco is employed by Boston-based Payne/Bouchier, Inc. and since 1997 he has taught history at the Urban College of Boston, where he was named educator of the year and where he serves on the Leadership Council.