A Case of Arson: Three Years Later

A row of antique radios that date back to the '20s sits along the wall inside , above the latest models of flatscreen TVs. It's a gorgeous collection of 10 to 15 models, and an eyepiece for the store. Owner Dave Brown says it represents only a fraction of his father's original collection, lost in the infamous fire that ripped through a section of a strip mall in Northborough three years ago.

"We had a much bigger and better collection," said Brown. "When it happened, my father called at three in the morning and I woke up and it was on TV and my father said, 'It doesn't like we're going to work.'"

The blaze, set by arsonists who first stole scratch tickets from O'Brien's 5&10, wiped out five businesses that made up a section of the plaza at 253 Main St. The fire climbed over the supporting cement wall that separated O'Brien's and Brown's TV, and then ripped through Desi Supermarket, Garabedian Jewelers and Queen Bead and Gifts.

said the fire, which occurred on March 25, 2008, is one of the most vivid in all his years working with the department, but the response was also a source of pride that involved the cooperation of fire, police and investigators. 

"It was rewarding, because from day one, we put a team together," said Durgin. "One thing we found immediately was forced entry, so we worked very closely with police departments, investigators, and came into it with a team approach. It was a lot of work, and involved a lot of people. From the beginning we thought it was an arson fire. It was such a large loss."

The fire caused approximately $2 million in damages, reported the Telegram and Gazette. Nicholas Couture, 18, of Shrewsbury and an accomplice were charged, and sentenced, for arson.

While they served time, businesses waited a full year for the building to be reconstructed. Three of them, said the Telegram, found new homes. O'Brien's and Brown's TV both returned to their respective locations, attempting to not only draw back its customer base, but trudge through an economy that had plummetted while they waited to return. O'Brien's did not survive, and closed earlier this year, citing the fire as instrumental in its inability to bounce back.

David Brown said he still feels the economic effects of the fire, too.

"We are still recovering from it," said Brown. "Insurance only pays so much, and we lost a lot, not to mention the customer base. We got hit twice. First the fire, and then the economy."