14 Washburn Road Unsolved Arson 2023
On May 21 2023 at approximately 6:30 PM Freetown Fire Department responded to 14 Washburn Road for a structure fire. The abandoned house was fully engulfed in flames when the fire department arrived. The 200-year old house was allegedly under renovations, however had no utilities. The fire was immediately deemed suspicious.
On May 21 2023 at approximately 6:30 PM Freetown Fire Department responded to 14 Washburn Road for a structure fire. The abandoned house was fully engulfed in flames when the fire department arrived. The 200-year old house was allegedly under renovations, however had no utilities. The fire was immediately deemed suspicious.
Monsour's Unsolved Arson 1999
On April 18 1999 at approximately 1:22 AM Freetown Fire Department responded to a structure fire at the former Monsour's Town and County Restaurant located on County Road.
The ATF and Massachusetts State Fire Marshals Office investigated the fire and determined it was arson. Accelerant detections dogs detected accelerants on several areas on the outside of the northern end of the building. There was no evidence of accelerants was found inside the restaurant.
The owner, Daniel Barbour claimed in 2001 in a Standard Times interview : "They've never invested their time to bring the arsonist to court. The ATF and state fire marshal, five years ago, identified a strong possible suspect. In those five years, the community has done nothing to bring that person in front of the proper jurisdictional channels," Investigators at the time determined it was arson and conducted extensive interviews, there is no evidence to sustain a conviction.
"Gentleman's Club"
The fire came just five (5) days after selectmen signed a license that will allow Mansour's to offer nude dancing at the restaurant, two (2) years after the Barbour's sued the town for denying them that same license. The town settled the case March 16 1999, to the outrage of many residents who vowed to continue fighting the restaurant's nude-dancing plans even though there was no further legal recourse.
After the fire, The owners reapplied for the license to rebuild as a strip club, they were rejected by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The Barbours sued in Land Court. The Barbours contend the board illegally rejected their permit to rebuild based on its intended use as a gentlemen's club with nude dancing. The town contends the size of the building and local zoning regulations led to the rejection, not bias toward its use. The court ruling upheld the building inspector's and the Zoning Board's decision that the Barbours had to comply with Freetown's zoning bylaws relative to reconstruction of fire-damaged structures.
In 2011, five (5) years after the arson, the Mansour's site was cleared of debris.
On April 18 1999 at approximately 1:22 AM Freetown Fire Department responded to a structure fire at the former Monsour's Town and County Restaurant located on County Road.
The ATF and Massachusetts State Fire Marshals Office investigated the fire and determined it was arson. Accelerant detections dogs detected accelerants on several areas on the outside of the northern end of the building. There was no evidence of accelerants was found inside the restaurant.
The owner, Daniel Barbour claimed in 2001 in a Standard Times interview : "They've never invested their time to bring the arsonist to court. The ATF and state fire marshal, five years ago, identified a strong possible suspect. In those five years, the community has done nothing to bring that person in front of the proper jurisdictional channels," Investigators at the time determined it was arson and conducted extensive interviews, there is no evidence to sustain a conviction.
"Gentleman's Club"
The fire came just five (5) days after selectmen signed a license that will allow Mansour's to offer nude dancing at the restaurant, two (2) years after the Barbour's sued the town for denying them that same license. The town settled the case March 16 1999, to the outrage of many residents who vowed to continue fighting the restaurant's nude-dancing plans even though there was no further legal recourse.
After the fire, The owners reapplied for the license to rebuild as a strip club, they were rejected by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The Barbours sued in Land Court. The Barbours contend the board illegally rejected their permit to rebuild based on its intended use as a gentlemen's club with nude dancing. The town contends the size of the building and local zoning regulations led to the rejection, not bias toward its use. The court ruling upheld the building inspector's and the Zoning Board's decision that the Barbours had to comply with Freetown's zoning bylaws relative to reconstruction of fire-damaged structures.
In 2011, five (5) years after the arson, the Mansour's site was cleared of debris.