The Citizen, 1995-06-07, Page 19-- Brussels Fire Department 1903 - 1995 --
CONGRATULATIONS
to the
Brussels Fire Department on
the opening of their
new facilities
We were pleased to
insulate, drywall and
tape the fire hall
MARSHALL DECORATING
R.R. #3 - BLYTH, ONTARIO NOM 1H0
(519) 523-9220 CELLULAR (519) 272-7679 FAX (519) 523-9545
Congratulations to the
Brussels Fire Department
from
John, Bonnie & Family
JOHN D. PENNINGTON
OIL BURNER TECHNICIAN
- Furnace Cleaning
- Repairs & Installation
• Oil Fired Hot Water Heaters
Serving Wingham, Brussels, Goderich
& surrounding area
Licensed Radio Dispatch Trucks
Brussels 519-887-9233 Fax: 519-887-9654
Page 7
From the files of the Brussels Post -
Thursday, May 25, 1905.
Thursday afternoon about 2:45
the large barns of the Queen's Hotel
took fire, occasioned by some
workmen putting up eaves-
troughing. Almost in an instant the
flames covered the building and the
hay and other inflammable matter
burned like a torch. The fire alarm
was rung and a rush made for the
fire engine but for some reason a
considerable time elapsed before
water was thrown and in the
meantime the high wind was
fanning the blaze into a perfect
fury.
In short order the fire was swept
across Thomas street into Walker's
livery barn and Plum's blacksmith
shop and westward to T.T.
Thomson's residence. The first
mentioned was saved largely owing
to the metal roof but the others fell
a prey to the devouring element,
despite the battle with buckets.
Flying embers started a blaze in
the American Hotel stable and it
and the sheds soon fell but before
this fire was carried into P. Scott's
blacksmith shop and the adjoining
pump works of F. Adams and they
were wreathed in flames. Mrs.
Strachan's cottage, south of the
American stable and Geo. Edwards'
stable were ablaze also and soon
levelled to the ground. Across Mill
street the fire fiend leaped and the
implement shop of Fletcher
Sparling, Geo. Edwards' planing
mill, R. K. Ross' flouring mill, Mrs.
Grieves' dwelling and the stables of
Walter Lowry and Thuell Bros.,
burned like match wood and only
by energetic work the electric light
power house was saved.
This was bad enough but the gale
of wind had lifted fire away across
the river to Jno. Cousley's stable
and the fine brick carriage factory
of J. Cober and Sons and they too
were consumed.
The intense heat from burning
wood behind Ross' mill adjacent to
fire engine stand compelled H.
James and Harry Mooney to shut
down the engine and it was feared
at one time that the fire fighter
would be destroyed by the elements
it was constructed to annihilate.
Many buildings near by the
pathway of the fire had close calls
and only by energetic work of men,
women and children in the working
bucket brigades averted a more
serious result. The cottage of Mrs.
Alcock alongside Walker's livery
was scorched.
Once it looked as if the Queen's
hotel was doomed as fire had
caught the cornice but hard
working men on the roof wrought
valiantly and won the day. If this
had not been the case a large
portion of the Main street buildings
might have gone up in smoke as
with the high wind it would have
been next to impossible to prevent
the biggest conflagration Brussels
ever had to contend against.
As to what the losses will be is
impossible at this hour to estimate
but many thousands of dollars will
not pay for the devastation. With
the largely increased price of
building material the question of
rebuilding was a very expensive
one to face. The Post sincerely
sympathizes with the losers, several
of whom were absent from town at
the time.
LITTLE SPARKS
Fire is a good servant but a bad
master.
What was the matter with the fire
apparatus?
Hundreds of people from the
neighbouring country drove into
town.
R. K. Ross had a large quantity
of Manitoba flour in stock in his
mill.
A shower of rain in the early
evening helped drench out burning
debris.
Many of our citizens and
outsiders worked like heroes and
rendered very effective aid.
Some of the older residents
called up incidents in connection
with the "big" fire of 1877.
The Ross mill was through the
fire before when the property of the
late John Grewar. Date was May
24, 1871.
The flames went with the speed
of a race horse and cinders were
carried beyond the Northerly
boundary of the town.
It is said the Cober factory might
have been saved had not their staff
been over assisting in fighting the
flames where the fire started.
Some estimate the total loss at
from $35,000 upwards. A good
many of the sufferers carry more or
less insurance fortunately.
A special train came down from
Wingham with from 50 to 100
people. The rumor in that town was
that the fire was on the Main street.
This is the 6th fire that Captain
Stretton's property has met with. In
this blaze he owned the house T.T.
Thomson lived in.
While all who suffered by fire
will feel their losses the destruction
Continued on page 8
HOME AGAIN
Former Brussels firefighter Jack McCutcheon recently
acquired tne 1929 Chevrolet pumper which belonged to
the fire department from 1947 until 1982.
The Township of
Grey and r (/
it
' A L a i ' Grey Township
Fire Department
congratulates
Brussels Fire Department
on the completion of their
new facility
A COMMUNITY EFFORT
Thanks in part to support from the local residents, Brussels Fire Department purchased a
new pumper in 1982. The fundraising campaign, which included a canvass of residents, in
addition to money in reserves, raised just over $1,000 more than the purchase price of
$51,682.
Flames consumes dollars
History recounts high cost of fires