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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1975-04-17, Page 24Fires of 100 years make The Seaforth fire brigade, like the town of Seaforth, is also celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. in the following story Seaforth historian, Miss Belle Campbell, tells of some of the exploits of our firemen over their 100 years of volunteer service. (by Belle Campbell) Two important events took place in Seaforth in 1875.' Seaforth, created a village in 1868, took on the status of a town on January 1, 1875 and itwas that same year a new Fire Brigade was formed - few in numbers 'and with a meagre supply 'of fire fighting equipment. Several of the fires ourfiremen have fought through the years have been the means of changing the picture of our present day Main Street. Scarcely had the excitement and glory of becoming a town died away when disaster struck - twelve acres of the business section was burned to the ground in a raging inferno leaving only a heap of ashes in its train. It was at two o'clock on a Monday morning early in September, 1876 that flames first broke out in Mrs. Griffith's grpcery and candy shack,. near Trapnell's bakeshop. Two from Megarey's bakeshop across the street were the first Spectatort. When they reached the street there stood Mrs. Griffith in her nightgown with some bedclothes, and other articles in her arms, showing little concern about the fire. The Brigade, still in its infancy, was soon on the scene. Their first effort was to save William Campbell's block, then the British Hotel and T.A.Sharp'.s stable east of it. With a one hand engine and an insufficient supply of hose and water their efforts failed. By this time Th omas Coventry's shoe shop on the west side near the Mansion Hotel, the only brick building in the area, had ignited. Hlere again they lost control and the whole blOck was lost. All they saved was Robert Lumsden's drug store and D.D.Wilson's buildings across the northwest corner at the intersection.• Megarey's new brick store, still unoccupied, now Shinen's, had its windows burned out but its brick walls arrested the flames from reaching other frame buildings south of it. Wet blankets soaked in a plentiful supply of salt helped to save other buildings bordering on the burned out area. One was James Watson's cottage on East William Street, the home of the late Mrs. Leonard Bolton. It was near here the fire petered out leaving in its t rail a property loss of $102,800.00. This represented a tremendous loss in 1876, especially when some carried not one cent of insurance. After the flames, died away Mrs: Griffith soon was placed under arrest on suspicion of -having fired her own premises. It was found she had placed an exorbitant insurance on her property and stock. At the trial in Goderich she testified that a coal oil lamp exploded.But because of threats she had made and being of a disreputable character her statement was not taken too seriously. About the time she was expected back plans were being brewed to tar and feather her. However, she stealthily made her escape out of the town and was never seen nor heard of again. It is hard to believe that in less than two years the former wdoden buildings were replaced by up-to-date substantial brick stores and blocks in which business is still being carried on today. Even a yeaebefore this fire, June 19, 1875, William Ira Atilt's store was partially burned. His total assessment was $700.00 - Property $300; , Personal $400. In court Ault was convicted by Jury of setting fire to his own store. Soon the charred building was moved back from the street out of sight. This made the first _• opening for what became Cardno's five store block in 1877. It is the largest in our town, and its builder, Alex Cardno, became one of the leading citizens in the town. He had stick-to-it qualities which served him well in business as they had in getting him from Scotland to Canada. His home folk did not approve of him leaving the Homeland, but being determined to see the new land, he delivered a load of flour from the' Cardno mill for shipment, got the money and skipped out on -his parents. His five store block stands today, a memorial to Alex--eardne., Market Fire The fire at the Market Building in the middle of the road at .the intersection of Market and Jarvis Street was a blow to the town but more so to the Fire Brigade. Shortly after 3 a.m. on the night of August 23, 1891, the citizens were aroused by the unearthly screech 'of the steam fire whistle. By the time the firemen arrived' all they could do was stand and watch a mass of flames consume to a heap of ashes the building where all their, fire fighting equipment was stored. Well, no, not all, one brass condenser from a hose nozzle was in George E.Henderson's saddler shop being fitted with a new leather washer. This was the same Fire Brigade which won a world record in Sarnia in 1888 for running and coupling a hose. A record still unchallenged. The one who did the running and coupling that day was George A. Sills, a charter member of the 1875 Fire Brigade. The old market building, although an eyesore to many, served many purposes. It provided" storage space for fire equipment, band instruments and uniforms and other things of value to the town. The town business also was transacted here. As incendiarism was suspected town council offered a three hundred dollar reward for the captive of the firebug, but it was never claimed. Once the old was gone, a new hall must be erected, ,but where? There was much heated discussion before a Anal decision was made, that decision .was not made 'till 1893. Four stores then were demolished and our present three-storey red brick town hall was built, making another change in the picture of the Main Street. Other Changes South of here other changes came about thrOugh the years. On April 17, 1895, little more than a year after the Town Hall was completed, the Commercial Hotel -beside it met the same fate as many other Main Street buildings.That same year, Alex Davidson replaced it with the present Commercial Hotel.' The new Dominion Hotel, later known by other names, burned on a very frosty night in February, 1899, when Jacob Kling was in charge. When the fire had. burned itself out all that was left was an ice-covered piano standing on the lot.When the firemen arrived home that night their trousers were frozen so stiff that when they st epped out of •them the trousers stood alone. This plot remained vacant till Carnegie Library was.' built here. It was officially opened early in capes September, 1913. Almost across the street two small st ores were burned in Fhbruary 1879. In their place Beattie Bros:bin 1892 built the present brick block between the Dick ' House and Durst's Welding Shop. Sparks from that fire flew in great profusion southward when Mary Boyd was on her way to school. She lingered around till one lodged in her eye which later gave her much distress.' she was sent home by her teacher with the instructions that her mother apply a bread and milk poultice. It did the job. Next morning Mary was back at 'school none the worse of her experience of the previous day. Attract children Danger or no danger , fires have always been an attraction to children. This proved to be true the day Charles Consigney's shoe shop burned at noon hour on a March day in 1908 on the preset post office grounds. Four young girls, one Ethel Beattie, were loath to leave the place of excitement so decided to take the afternoon off. When the fire died down there was nothing more to see, no place to go, they couldn't go home, so went back to school - later. When they arrived the teacher, Minnie 'MacKay announced to the pupils. "We have visitors, we have visitors", said she.She then escorted the visitors to a row of chairs at the front of the room And left them there without paper, pen or pencil 'till school was dismissed at four. The work they were allotted then had to be completed before they got their release to go home. The teacher shared part of the punishment as she had to remain with, them, but the "Yisitors" never did, try to play hooky again. 1881 Fire In 1881 the Cady frame block built by Sam Cady replaced a former frame block of three stores burned• earlier that year from afire started in Riggs Restaurant. Again in November, 1930, this 1881 Cady block met the same fate. This time an explosion late at night in George Israel and George Charters' Tailoring and Dry Cleaning Plant sparked off the fire. At least one upstair occupant, Dorothy Robinson, jumped to safety and sustained a broken ankle. That November night the flames lit up the sky and made a wonderful display of fireworks. Being iituated as it was there was danger of a repeat of the 1876 fire. However, the pumps at the waterworks worked all night at full capacity and kept up the water supply for the firefighters who with great effort at last got it ,tinder control.The pump vibrations were so great that not one of the Mole family in the waterwork house got a wink of sleep that night. Many years later, Mel. Clark built his garage on this burned out area, across from the Commercial Hotel. So far the burned buildings recorded were all replaced but there were others where the vacant gaps are still to be seen on our Main Street. The North part of the Canadian Tire parking lot was the location of R.L. Clark's home and grocery store . It was badly damaged by a 'fire on August 12, 1939 and was never replaced. This was the first fire Jake Holmes was in charge of at the waterworks. An over amount of pressure at the start resulted in leaks in the older water tanks and stove water fronts in the homes. While the firefighters were battling with the fire, householders were busy with brooms and mops cleaning up water (Continued on Page 9) SEA.FORTH on your 100th Birthday from MITCHELL. FEED MILL (Owned by Ed Dolmage and Family) Doyou remember when'? 1953 Ed. Doimage married children - Richard Linda Bruce Anne 1928 Charles H. Dolmage - Married ,- Etoile Sharp children - Marg Ed Helen Jean Jim Gerry 1931 Warren Gibbings - married - Marie Rapson children - Jean - Ken Betty Ann Doug. Jean Gibbings 1898 Sid Dolmage married Elizabeth McDonough children - Charles H. Edna 1908 Tom Sharp married Jeanette Bowman children - Etolle Alvin Keith Ernie Amor 1902 John G. Gibbings married Mary Ball children - Flois • Pere Warren Evelyn 1908 John Rapson married Mary Jane Knox children - Marie "A Lot Of Little Things Happen in 100 Years" 8-THE HURON EXPOSITOR, APRIL 17, 1875