(Courtesy of NASHUA HISTORICAL SOCIETY) It was a close call for several members of the now 120-year-old Nashua Lodge of Elks one night back in late March 1961. Following a meeting that evening, some members stayed around to play a few hands of cards, when, close to midnight, they heard a pounding on the door and were met with a police officer who told them to get out because the building -- the Beasom Block, then at 127-139 Main St. -- was ablaze. Forever Elks member Al Savage was among those evacuees, and sometime ago he recalled what a close call it was: By the time they sprinted out the door, they looked up to see flames pouring from the windows next to the card tables.

It was a close call for several members of the now 120-year-old Nashua Lodge of Elks one night back in late March 1961. Following a meeting that evening, some members stayed around to play a few hands of cards, when, close to midnight, they heard a pounding on the door and were met with a police officer who told them to get out because the building – the Beasom Block, then at 127-139 Main St. – was ablaze. Forever Elks member Al Savage was among those evacuees, and sometime ago he recalled what a close call it was: By the time they sprinted out the door, they looked up to see flames pouring from the windows next to the card tables.