Results for ‘Fires’
[Welland Tribune, 18 March 1904]
At least five persons were killed and a score of other employees were injured by an explosion of toy pistol caps which completely demolished the 2-storey brick manufacturing plant of the Chicago Toy Novelty company st Western avenue and West 18th street of that city early Tuesday morning. The wrecked building caught fire after the explosion, and the bodies of the dead were badly burned. The building was occupied by three firms, employing nearly 100 persons.
The proprietors of the toy company were Messrs. John, David, Geroge Stalker, sons of George Stalker of Welland, and two Drs. Mason of Niagara Falls. George Stalker was temporarily managing the business. One of the workmen was wheeling a truck loaded with fifty gross of the dynamite caps, and the foreman in putting a case of the guns on top of it, dropped the case, exploding the truck load of dynamite, several smaller explosions following. The building was completely wrecked, and the fire added to the terror of the scene. All the killed were employees of the toy company, and the injured were all badly crushed and burned.
The company had no permit, so far as can be learned, for the manufacture or storing of explosives, and this may affect the insurance. Messrs. Stalker had about $3000 invested in the business.
BLAST ON ALBERT STREET ROCKS NEIGHBORHOOD AND CAUSES $10,000 FIRE LOSS
Windows and Glass Parlors of Nearby Bell Telephone Exchange Smashed and Night Operator Thrown Against Switchboard-Wife and Eight Children Sleeping in Rear of House at Time-Gas Heater Left Burning in Shop Mentioned as Possible Cause
[The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 16 Dece
mber 1931]
St. Catharines, Dec. 16-An explosion at four o’clock this morning completely levelled the frame fruit and grocery store of Frank Boccinfuso on Albert street, Thorold, smashed windows and the glass parlors in the Bell Telephone exchange across the street and caused a fire which damaged the Boccinfuso store, a shop next door and his residence at the rear.
The entire neighborhood was rocked by the concussion.
Miss Lillie Long, night operator in the telephone exchange, was thrown against the switchboard. Boccinfuso, his wife and eight children were sleeping in the house at the rear at the time, but were not injured.
The loss is estimated at $10,000.
Although the cause has not been definitely determined, a gas heater left burning in the store is being mentioned as the possible cause.
Tense Drama Enacted When Old Upper Hotel Discovered Ablaze
Allanburg, Beaverboard and Welland Brigades Respond to Alarm, and Water Pumped 1,400 Feet From Nearby Raceway-Hose Laid Across Canal Bridge and Disconnections Made When Boat Appears
Damage Estimate at $13,000
[The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 5 October 1931]
While Welland slept during the night, a tense drama was enacted in the village of Allanburg when three fire departments worked feverishly to save a number of residences from falling prey to flames. The old Upper hotel, a two storey frame building unoccupied, was the centre of the conflagation, and when the structure was observed to be ablaze at one o’clock this morning, calls were sent to the Allanburg department and the Beaverboard brigade, while the long, short and long emergency blast of the siren at Central fire station in Welland summoned the Welland pumper and 22 men to the scene.
When the Welland department arrived, it was seen that the hotel was a total loss, but the danger threatening adjoining property resulted in a quick decision to play water in the flames to prevent their spread. The raceway west of the canal was the nearest suction available source as with only 20 feet of suction hose the pumper would not work out of the canal proper The hose was laid around the sharp corner on highway No. 3A to the lift bridge on the canal, across the bridge to the raceway situated a few hundred feet west of the bridge.
Highway Traffic Blocked
The pumper was stationed on the narrow bridge across the raceway, blocking all highway traffic and the water was pumped 1,400 feet across the lift bridge and around the sharp corner on No. 3A highway to the scene of the blaze. Good pressure was secured, and the fire fighters were able to play a strong stream on the flames.
However a new obstacle confronted the firefighters when it was discovered that a boat was approaching the canal bridge. The bridge tender warned the firemen of approach of the ship and they hastened to the bridge in time to diconnect the hose at each end of the structure. When the bridge was raised it carried the length of hose across its deck with it. After the boat had passed underneath, the connections were again adjusted and the task of keeping the flames confined was renewed.
About four o’clock, the fire was subdued and the damage estimated at about $13,000, was confined to the one building. The Allanburg chemical truck was instrumental in saving an adjacent barn.
Combine Hose Equipment
In order to reach the raceway fromt the structure, it was necessary to combine the hose equipment of the Welland and Beaverboard detachments. Nineteen lengths of hose from the Welland trucks were used while 400 feet from the Beaverboard truck was attached. Wuth few exceptions the entire population of the village with their homes near the burning structure, drew water and kept spraying the roofs of their homes in order to prevent sparks from causing further damage.
The structure was built over a century ago and passed out of the hands of the Upper interests to a Buffalo real estate firm. The building had been unoccupied for about a year.
Through the kindness and thoughtfulness of Mr.and Mrs. R. Lister of Allanburg, the members of the various fire companies were refreshed with hot coffee and sandwiches during their strenuous fight with the flames.
WELLAND AND FONTHILL BRIGADES CALLED TO PREMISES OF GEORGE BRADLEY
IMPLEMENTS AND COW REMOVED FROM BUILDING-LOSS PARTLY INSURED.
[The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 16 November 1931]
Fire of unknown origin during the noon hour on Saturday destroyed a barn on the premises at Ridgeville on which George Bradley, brother of Mayor Fred J. Bradley of Welland, resides with his family, and the loss was stated by Mr. Bradley to be around $2,000, partly insured. Welland fire brigade received a call for assistance at 1.30 p.m., and responded with 10 men and equipment from the west side fire hall. The Welland Brigade used 150 feet of hose, and this provided one of the streams used to extinguish the blaze.
Considerable machinery and equipment was in the barn at the time but Mr. Bradley was able with the help of neighbors to get most of the heavy implements and some of the other equipment out of danger. One cow in the building at the time was taken out. The house, in which Mr.and Mrs. Bradley live, was approximently 550 feet away from the barn, but through the strong efforts of the neighbors and the Fonthill fire department, and later on the Welland fire department, the flames were confined to the barn, which was a large structure with concrete foundation.
Esatablishment One of the Most Modern in District-Delivery Equipment Also Lost.
[The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 14 October 1931]
St. Catharines, Oct. 14.-One of the most modern baking establishments in the district, the Dominion bakery of Thorold was totally destroyed by fire this morning.
Delivery equipment was also burnied. The loss was estimated at $45,000, partly covered by insurance.
The establishment was owned by Mike Maroney.
Niagara Falls Village
[Welland Tribune, 11 March 1898]
A destructive fire made havoc in F. E. Dalton’s block, on Ferry street, at 7 o’clock on Tuesday evening, causing heavy loss to the building and its occupants, W. J. Manuel, bakery, and Miss Forde, millinery. The fire started by pure accident, as follows: – The electric lighting company having failed to turn on their lights, Mr. Manuel was obliged to hunt up the discarded coal oil lamps, and with four of these on a tray he was coming down the back stairway. One of the lamps slipped, and in an effort to prevent its falling the whole lot fell. The lamps of course broke, the flames ignited the oil, and in a moment the stairway was ablaze. Attempts were made with clothing and pails of water to extinguish the fire, but this could not be done and the alarm of fire rang through the streets. The smoke and heat was soon almost unbearable, and the large plate glass windows in the bakery were all broken by the heat. The fire department responded promptly, but the smoke was so dense that egress by the way of the front stairway was almost impossible. In the meantime goods from both Mr. Manuel’s and Miss Forde’s apartments were being moved in a damaged condition. Candies and cakes and hats and feathers and ribbons are tender goods to rush out in the street amid smoke and heat and flying cinders and falling water, and the condition of such stock can better be imagined than described. Mr. Manuel carried a choice stock, and Miss Forde had just received an extra large consignment of new spring goods – and not a yard of goods or a hat were left in the building. The cakes were turned into dough and caramels and gum drops and taffy joined hands and coursed down the shelves and along the floor a delightful syrup. The wreck was complete in the bakery, and the loss in Miss Forde’s and in both living apartments will be quite heavy – as will also be the loss on the building. The adjusters had not arrived at this writing (Wednesday}, and it would be idle to guess at the loss. With the exception of Mr. Manuel’s loss, however, the damage will be covered by insurance. The policy on the bakery was for $600, and would have expired today (Friday.) Miss Forde has $300 on stock and $600 on furniture, and Mr. Dalton is insured in the Waterloo for $2,000. The firemen did good work, but the fire was that of deceptive, stubborn character that is difficult to subdue. It got between the partition, along the cornice and under the metal roof, and the latter had to be torn up to reach the seat of the fire. It was fully an hour and a half before it was under control. The firemen worked well and the pressure on the hydrants was all that could have been desired. The citizens, too, did all in their power to assist the victims of the fire, and the fire-sufferers fully appreciate the many kindness shown.
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Freeman Ewer’s Residence Destroyed
[Welland Tribune, 18 February 1898]
The residence of Freeman Ewers in Crowland township, about 1 ½ miles soutwest of Welland, was destroyed by fire early of Monday morning, with most of its contents. Had not the neighbors come to the rescue some of the inmates might had lost their lives, as they were sleeping when the fire began. The insurnce policy was burned, and Mr. Ewers is not sure how the insurance is divided, but thinks there is $350 on the house and contents, and $150 on the barn and contents. The loss will probably reach $600, and the insurance is placed in the Waterloo Mutual, Swayze & Son, agents. The exact cause of the fire is unknown.
[Welland Tribune, 18 February 1898]
Fonthill had another close call in the fire line on Friday evening last. The barn of John Davis was totally destroyed, together with a quantity of feed. The cause of the conflagration was the upsetting of a lantern in the hay mow. It was only by unremitting labor on the part of our citizens, who formed themselves into a pail brigade, that the fire was confined to the original building. The buildings which were most endangered and only saved by the heroic work of amateur firemen, were Mr. Davis’ house and Mrs. Shirk’s and Mr. Crowell’s barns and Mr. Lounsbury’s barns and house. The above mentioned parties desire to sincerely thank those who so nobly worked to save their property last Friday evening. Insurance on building $100. Horses, rigs, etc., saved.
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The Doherty Organ Company’s Works At Clinton Totally Destroyed
150 Men Thrown Out Of Work
[Welland Tribune, 4 February 1898]
Clinton, Ont., Feb. 1: The Doherty organ factory, which has been the boast of Clinton citizens for twenty years, is this morning in ashes. The entire plant, which occupied half a block, is a total loss, not even the lumber having been saved. The origin of the fire is a mystery, except that it originated in the hot blast fan, which was used to heat the buildings. The night watchman was on duty, and smelt the fire, and soon located it in the steel box, which contained the fan. He at once stopped the working of the fan and started the pumps. By the time he returned to the fan with the hose the heat and fire were so intense that when he opened the door he was driven back and almost suffocated. A general alarm was then sounded, but owing to the very deep snow caused by yesterday’s storm, it was with difficulty that the steam engine arrived at the tanks near the factory. The temperature was considerably below zero and a very high wind blowing so that it was with difficulty that the firemen undertook their work.
The factory was the largest exclusively organ factory in Canada, and yet not large enough to meet the demands of their trade, and Mr. Doherty was making arrangements to build another large addition this year. During October, November and December the men were all working overtime. The building, stock and machinery was valued at $100,000, and there were nearly 1,000 0rgans on the way to completion, while in the yard there was nearly a million feet of valuable lumber. Against all this there is but a small insurance from $30,000 to $40,000, hence Mr. Doherty’s loss will be very heavy. About 150 men were employed, and for them to be turned out the coldest day in winter is, to say the least, not pleasant. Mr. Doherty’s residence right behind the factory was also totally destroyed.
Mr. Doherty is one of the most public-spirited citizens of Clinton, and it was only two weeks ago that he came forward and offered to stand half of the expense of building a new Methodist church, the present one proving inadequate. A committee of the Methodist church was progressing favorably in the work of raising by general subscription the balance of the sum required. Everything promised great success for Clinton’s chief industry, the Doherty Organ Works, the extensive improvements of last year making the factory one of the most compact in the country.
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Humberstone News
[Welland Tribune, 4 February 1898]
At about 1 p.m. on Monday, fire came near destroying the home of Horace Ramey; and, worse still, very near resulting in burning his baby boy, Adin. Some clothing had been hung about the stove to dry, and this by some means caught on fire. The flames soon leaped to the clothing hanging on the walls, to the curtains, and to the wooden ceiling of the room. The place was hot as a furnace, the fire was eating its way toward the roof, and the little three-year-old boy was in vain trying to climb up the steps to the next room and fight back the fire with his little hands. The father and mother were both out of the house, but the former saw the smoke coming through the roof and ran toward the house, crying fire. Others followed, the boy was quickly rescued, and the pail brigade was instantly at work drawing water from the large cistern close at hand. Determined efforts finally succeeded in putting down the fire and the building was saved. A look at the blackened interior, the melted zinc, and the burned contents, gives one a good idea of how near we came to having a disastrous conflagration.
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