DISASTROUS FIRE

Methodist Church Again the Victim

All but Walls and Basement Destroyed

LOSS $12,000-INSURANCE $5,500

Town Steam Roller Burned

GREAT GAS CONFLAGRATION

CHURCH TO BE REBUILT AT ONCE

             The town steam road roller and the just re-opened Methodist church on Muir street were victims of the devouring element on Tuesday evening. Everything about the roller that would burn or melt was burned or melted, and the church was destroyed, all except the sidewalls and basement.

             The responsibility for the conflagration rests with the town steam roller which burst the gas main. Wm. Phillips, who was in charge of the roller, was steering it to the side of the road opposite the church, where it has remained when not in use for the past few nights. One of the caulks on the wheels punctured the large high-pressure gas main, which lay on the surface of the ground.

GAS EXPLOSION

             The gas at once shot out with a tremendous roar and force and ignited from the fire in the firebox. The flames shot into the air, blowing Phillips from the cab. He was badly but not dangerously burned about the hands and face. He is expected to recover. The roller was burned as stated above. It cost the town $3,000 a few years ago. Fortunately the boiler was full of water and did not explode and is apparently unharmed. It will cost probably between $500 and $1000 to repair the roller, as the engine rods are twisted, babbit melted out, and all the woodwork completely gone.

THE CHURCH FIRE

             About half-past six o’clock the church roof was observed to be on fire. The flames at an early stage were seen breaking through the roof in different places, which gave some the impression that the fire originated in the interior of the church, and not from the roller-gas fire. The facts, however, we think, leave no doubt that the one fire caused the other. The trees near the church were scorched by the gas; the wind was blowing directly from the fire to the church, and the fire developed just after lapse of time sufficient to have got a start. It is generally supposed that the gas explosion blew a piece of burning wood or other debris from the cab under or against the lower part of the church roof, that, there being no wind, this burnt its way through the roof, then rapidly followed the roof up on the under side, breaking out at the top, and leading to the belief that the fire originated inside.

FIREMEN DID QUICK WORK

             There was some quick work done by the firemen. It took only four minutes from the time the first alarm was sounded till No. 3 had a stream playing on the flames, the cart having been started before the alarm sounded. The other three reels arrived in rapid order, and the work of quenching the flames was begun. The Cordage Fire Co. was early on hand, and did good work.

             Chief Stapf was on hand early and directed his men. In all four streams were put in use, one on the rear, one on the front, and one on each side.

WATER PRESSURE POOR

             The water pressure was very poor, 134 pounds being the limit. The water is wasted too freely about town and that perhaps accounts for the low pressure. During the fire someone telephoned for a better pressure, and they were informed by the waterworks officials that no more water pressure could be obtained. They also accompanied this information with the retort, “Get better nozzles.”

             The trees around the church have grown against the walls on every side, and made the task of the firemen doubly difficult-and dangerous, as they had to get close to the walls to get through the screen of trees.

THE CHURCH LOSS

             The church was the largest in the town and cost originally about $14,000, when work and material were much cheaper than they are now. In addition to original cost, the organ had just been rebuilt and the church renovated and repainted after the former fire, at a cost of $2,000, which of course, is a dead loss. The church was re-opened only the Sunday preceding. The organ is a total loss and no insurance; it cost $800, and cannot be replaced by that sum. The electric lighting appliances cost about $400, all lost.

             Most of the chairs in the basement, the piano and other furniture were saved by citizens who carried them out onto the lawn of the church. A small organ was also saved. All the Sunday school paraphernalia was got out.

             The walls of the church are practically intact, and the fire never entered the basement at all. As may be seen elsewhere in this paper, the trustees have since met and pluckily decided to have the church rebuilt at once, in a more modern and convenient form, at a cost of $12,000. The Methodist church of Welland has always kept full abreast of the times and there is no thought of taking a back seat or yielding to disaster now.

             The tower of the church was burnt at the top only, the bell remaining in its position, uninjured it is supposed.

THE INSURANCE

             In the matter of insurance, the church is in an unfortunate position. The church, organ, furniture etc., that should have been insured for at least $12,000, was insured for only $5,500 at the outside. The trustees have been negotiating for additional insurance, but unfortunately neglected to take the advice against procrastination so often heard from Methodist pulpits until it was everlastingly too late. 

             As soon as the fire got below the roof, the heavy walls kept the flames enclosed, and there being no wind, the conflagration was kept from spreading without great difficulty.

OPERA HALL TO BE USED

             The trustees of the church have accepted the kind offer of Mr. O.H. Garner to use Orient Hall for the services until other quarters can be found. The usual services will therefore take place on Sunday in Orient Hall, Rev. C.J. Dobson of Markham, preaching at both services. Rev. J.E. Hockey, on hearing of the disaster, returned from the vacation trip on which he was just starting and will also be present.

SPARKS

             The only thing about the church that was fully insured was the piano-and it was saved, being in the basement.

             When Phillips was being taken home he refused to allow the driver to pass the burning boiler; he had had enough of it. A burnt child dreads the fire.

             The break in the gas main was fixed about 9:30 Tuesday evening. It would have been repaired sooner, but nothing could be done until the steam roller was got off the point impaired.

             There was a regrettable incident in connection with the unfortunate accident to Phillips. Tuesday was pay day and his coat with his pay in it was burnt to cinders, while hanging in the cab of the roller.

             The gas, which could not be shut off until the shut-off above the Junction was reached, made a tremendous roaring, the flames reaching above the telegraph wires. Thousands gathered to see the double conflagration.

             “Humpy” Hagar had two fingers on his right hand broken again. They were broken two or three weeks ago, and it was feared they could not be straightened. He took the accident philosophically, saying, “Perhaps they will be straight again now.”

             Mr. Boyd, who was holding the hose on the roof of the parsonage, had a narrow escape from being thrown off the roof. In turning the hose, it slipped, and in recovering it, he turned the full force of the water on himself. He managed to right himself, however.

             “Better late than never,” is a well-known motto, but in this case “Better late than early” is a true saying. The Methodist church had ordered over 100 yards of new carpet for the aisles. This came from Montreal, and there was some disappointment that it had not been received for the opening, but that very fact was its salvation. The carpet did not arrive until Monday and had been delivered, but was got out of the basement of the church during the fire, not having been laid yet.

GRANT RYAN HURT

             Grant Ryan, of No. 1 Hose Co., while working near the steeple, was hit on the right shoulder and side by a piece of falling cornice about fourteen feet long. He was unconscious for a little while and was carried to Dr. Cowper’s hospital. It was thought by many that he was seriously hurt, but fortunately it was found that no bones had been broken, only his shoulder and side being bruised.  He was around again Wednesday and will be all right in a day or two.

             Send ten cents to the Yedis Co., Welland, and get two photographs of the fires.

[Welland Tribune,  9 August 1907]

Fire: 6 August 1907

Methodist Church to be Rebuilt at Once

Improved and Modernized at a cost of $12,000

             A meeting of the board of trustees of the Welland Methodist Church was held on Monday morning, when it was decided to rebuild the church at once and in a much more modern plan as far as the circumstances and finances will permit. The entrance will be entirely changed. The cost will be in the neighborhood of $12,000 and will require about $7,000 to be raised after receiving the insurance. One thousand dollars were subscribed at the meeting and the trustees expect to report a large portion of the $7,000 already subscribed before the services in the Opera House on Sunday.

[Welland Tribune, 9 August 1907]