Something to make me quit

Sounds like the wrong gauge of wires had been used- or when the panel was updated, the electrician put on too many amps total for the size of the feeder line from the pole. That is if the box was ever updated- did you have fuses or breakers?

I too live in a wicked old house. There's still knob-and-tube circuits that I would never use for anything larger than a table lamp. But before growing I had an electrician run me a bunch of circuits on their own 20-amp breakers, one per 1000w lamp I eventually want to use.

I totally want to see pics of this scorched box.

I'm looking farward to spring when you can get back in the game with some outdoor maybe?

Best of luck!