Rock City: This is the area at the entrance to the Carthage Athletic Field and
the location of the NYS Armory. It is to this high vantage-point that Mr.
Brownell took his son and household goods for safety. It was "in the
country" in 1884.
View from present site of N.Y. State Armory, a likely spot for Chuckie's
father to have left him during the fire. Note the carpet of leaves that would
have helped to spread the fire.
Rock City
A boy named Chuckie (Brownell) lived in Carthage a long time ago. He lived
in Carthage during the Great Carthage Fire of 1884. There is a place in
Carthage called Rock City. It is a hill with rocks and a lot of trees.
Rock City is where Chuckie watched the village burn to a crisp. Every time
his dad came back to where Chuckie and his (family's) valuables waited,
Chuckie asked if the house burnt down yet. His dad always said no.
Chuckie's house never did burn down but later it was torn down and nothing
was ever built on the spot where Chuckie's house was. / by Kristy
During the Carthage Fire, Rock City was where Chuckie Brownell waited for
his father. Every time his father came back to check on him, he would ask,
"Has our house burnt yet?" His father kept telling him that his house hadn't.
Chuckie's house never burned. Quite a few years later I think it was torn
down by the state. Rock City is still in Carthage. I don't think it's exactly the
same though./ by Danielle
Rock City is where Chuckie sat when the fire was burning Carthage. Rock
City didn't burn because it was too far north and the fire didn't burn this far.
Chuckie was safe in Rock City , but the rest of the area was not safe. Rock
City didn't burn because it is made of rock and rock only cracks, not burns.
Rock City was the best place to be in Carthage during the Great Fire.
/ by Jim
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