Results for ‘Fires’
[Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 25 April 1931]
Building Owned by Welland Cartage Company While Animals Belonged to Atkins Bakery-Truck, Hay and Harness Also Lost-Fire Presents Brigade With Stiff Three Hour Fight-Plant of Atherton Woodworking Company Saved Only Through Fine Work of Firemen.
Fire shortly after midnight destroyed on old barn on Division street, owned by George Smith of the Welland Cartage company, burned two valuable horses to death, destroyed a large quantity of hay and several sets of harness owned by Ernest Atkins, baker, and also destroyed a truck, valued at $750, owned by Mr. Smith, the total monetary loss being around $1,250.
The horses were owned by Mr. Atkins, and were valued around $400. The plant of the Atherton Woodworking company, which was but 10 feet away from the roaring furnace, was saved only through the courageous and energetic work of the fire brigade _of the company. James H. Atherton believed the fire brigade should be heartily commended. The blaze lasted three hours, and for more than two hour occasioned for the firemen the hardest and at times the most dangerous work. Cause of the fire is believed by Mr. Smith, proprietor of the Welland Cartage Company, and owner of the barn, to have been a lighted cigarette left in the hay loft by hoboes. There was no insurance on any of the horses.
William Spark, who resides on Division street, noticed the blaze. Only partly clad he rushed to the barn, and hoped to effect a rescue of the horses, but the inside of the structure was a roaring furnace, and it was impossible to do anything. He rang fire alarm 41. At about the same time two young men in an automobile on Division street, James Beals and a friend, noticed the fire, and they rushed their car to Central fire hall in the belief it would be quicker to do that than to pull the alarm, according to the narrative given to The Tribune. The moment they reached the fire hall the hooter rang out.
The fire brigade responded immediately with Assistant Fire Chief Joseph C. MacMillan in charge. In all 33 fire fighters participated and 12 lengths of hose were used. The Central fire hall pumper and hose and ladder truck also accompanied the men in the blaze. Mr. Atkins and Mr. Atherton were both present during the course of the fire and they informed the Tribune that the two horses were dead, before anything could be done to rescue them from their dreadful position.
The barn was an ancient frame structure valued at approximately $500, and about five years ago Mr. Smith had two garages built on as an annex……..
[People’s Press, 1 May 1900]
The frame residence and grocery owned and occupied by Mrs. Charles Bullock at Cook’s Mills was totally destroyed by fire last Saturday afternoon. The fire is supposed to have caught from a spark from the chimney falling on the roof. The contents, both the residence and shop, including even clothing, etc., were all burned except a barrel of coal, oil, which was got out. There was a slight insurance -$250-on the building.
[Welland Tribune, 22 March 1904]
Mr. J.A. Stalker received word on Saturday that the inquest over the explosion of the Chicago Toy Novelty Co.’s plant in Chicago, exonerated the proprietors from all blame.
[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.
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