This month, Ocala Main Street invites you to learn more about The Great Fire of 1883 and how Ocala earned its Brick City nickname.
Ocala’s beautiful downtown was incorporated as a town in 1869 with significant development happening during the 1880s, creating the downtown square we know and love today. On Thanksgiving Day 1883, while most of Ocala’s residents were celebrating the holiday on Lake Weir, a fire started and swept through the center of town destroying five blocks of the business district. During the rebuilding process, wooden structures were replaced by brick and other fire-resistant materials, giving Ocala a new moniker.
With October 9-15 being National Fire Prevention Week and Halloween at the end of the month, Ocala Main Street’s Executive Director Jessica Fieldhouse, says the story of The Great Fire was a perfect fit to showcase one of Ocala’s most terrifying events and the origin story of why our city is now called The Brick City.
“Join us as we share the original horror story of Ocala follow along the treacherous path laid by The Great Fire,” says Jessica. “This downtown Ocala walking tour is a two-hour even and approximately one mile long, with stops into local bars to enjoy three fiery drinks.”
Learn more about The Great Fire Walking Tour in the October issue of 352 Preview Magazine at https://issuu.com/352preview/docs/352_oct22/10.
Check out more local entertainment like this at 352preview.com.
