Results for ‘Fires’
[Welland Telegraph, 6 February 1891]
Just after the bell had announced 12 o’clock yesterday, the firemen were summoned by the alarm to the house of Mr. John Peach, on Burgar street, where a fire was in progress, and which they extinguished before a great deal of damage had been done to the building. The fire is supposed to have originated from the chimney, and when discovered it had burned a considerable portion between the roof and ceiling. Mrs. Peach was busy preparing the dinner at the time, but as soon as she learned of the fire dispatched her boy to give the alarm, then with the assistance of some neighbors commenced to clear the house of furniture, most of which was carried out The building belongs to Mrs. Clement, of Buffalo, and the damage is covered by insurance in the Mercantile.
[Welland Telegraph, 6 February 1891]
The Imperial Bank narrowly escaped destruction by fire on Wednesday evening. Some of the clerks who were working in the building discovered smoke coming from the wainscoting in the manager’s room, and an investigation discovered that fire was smouldering beneath the floor. Mr. P. McMurray was sent for, who after cutting several holes in the floor was able to extinguish the fire. The origin of the fire was from a grate in the room, the floor of which was merely a slab of inch marble resting on the joist, and the intense heat had ignited the wood underneath, and when discovered a 2×10 joist had been burned through. The damage is covered by insurance. Peter worked like a hero in locating and extinguishing the fire, and came out of the fight bearing marks of heavy warfare. If the discovery had not been made just at the time it was, the result might have been disastrous.
[Welland Telegraph. 1 May 1891]
Last Saturday morning about 11 o’clock the residence of Mr. David Bald, in Thorold township, just outside the corporation, was discovered to be on fire. An alarm was sounded and plenty of assistance from town was soon on hand. The hose company and the hooks made quick time to the scene, but the house was too far away from a hydrant to make the hose of any benefit until the steamer was brought out. The roads being rough and the distance considerable it was about half an hour after the alarm before the engine could be got to work, but when it did commence it did good work, and was the means of saving the kitchen, the walls, and the lower floor. The hook and ladder company who were early at work did good service. Most of the furniture on the ground floor was saved, but everything upstairs, except the contents of one room, was destroyed. The fire originated from a chimney and getting under the shingles and being fanned by the breeze soon converted the whole roof into a mass of flames, which nothing but the most prompt and decisive action could check, and the distance from water and fire appliances rendered immediate aid impossible. The building was insured in the Waterloo Mutual for $1,500, which more than covers the loss, but the loss on contents, which were uninsured amounts to something like $500. This is Mr. Bald’s second loss by fire, as his barn was destroyed some years ago.
Taylor & Crow’s Hardware Store Gets a Roasting
Bad Enough, but it Might Have Turned Out Calamitous-Cool Management Counts-The Water Works a Property Saver-Loss Heavy by Damage to Stock.
[Welland Tribune, 10 March 1893]
WELLAND, March 7.- At 4 p.m., one of the clerks in Taylor & Crow’s large hardware establishment, West Main street, went into the cellar to draw some japan. In doing so, the liquid, through the pressure of gas or some other cause, spurted from the barrel and caught fire. Whether the flames were communicated from a lantern that was burning in the cellar or not, is not known. The fire came like a flash, and the clerk was obliged to retreat to save himself.
Dense volumes of smoke rushed up the elevator opening and stairway, while tongues of flames darted and danced in and out among barrels of highly inflammable oils, varnish and the like. On the floor above was stored kegs of gunpowder, and as the smoke prevented the workers from seeing where the fire was creeping, the position of affairs was for a time alarming.
The firemen gave instant response to the alarm sounded, and the streams were quickly playing on the flames.
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[The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 25 November 1931]
New coats, new boots, new hats and new fire hose but no fire to allow the Humberstone firemen to use them, is the case with the members of this company of fire-fighters. A short time ago the fire siren of this village had to be exercised to keep it in condition because there we re not enough fires to blow it often enough to keep it in proper working order. The citizens of the village wonder if the new waterproof clothing and fire fighting equipment will not become ineffective from disuse. Although fires are not desired it is a pleasant thought for the citizens to know that the firemen are prepared for a fire of any size in any type of weather.
Blaze of Unknown Origin Breaks Out Early Today at Port Colborne-Mill Closes for Fumigation
[The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 1 October 1931]
A fire of unknown origin broke out about 7.30 a.m., this morning behind the switchboard in the electrical room of the Maple Leaf Milling Company at Port Colborne, and although the fire didn’t last long it was severe enough to cause about $5,000 worth of damage.
After the fire was discovered an attempt was made at first to quench the blaze by means of chemicals but this method proved futile and it was necessary to employ water. The employees of the mill who fought the blaze were afraid to use the water because of the danger it would cause to parts not actually in contact with the fire but the other parts were not harmed much after the water was applied.
The damage was caused mostly in the wiring behind the main switch board where the wires were burned or fused together so as to necessitate their removal and replacement with new wires. H. Cowan, superintendent of the mill, stated that this fire had nothing to do with the closing down, but that had been done for fumigation purposes.
Also Powell’s Coal Sheds
[Welland Tribune, 8 December 1910]
Early Wednesday morning fire from an unknown cause completely destroyed the bit G.T.R. elevator at Port Dalhousie, along with George Powell’s coal shed, big ice house and two hundred feet of the harbor wharf. The St. Catharines fire department was appealed to for assistance, and a car sent to take down an engine, but, for some reason, the steamer was driven to the village, a distance of over three miles. The steamer arrived in time to save the warehouse of the Maple leaf Rubber Company, but the destruction of the other property was complete.
The villagers being without fire protection, formed a bucket brigade, and prevented the flames from licking up the G.T.R. depot and station master’s house.
Apart from the railway company, the loss is about $4000. The grain had been in the elevator for three weeks. It is said the loss on the elevator will be between $40,000 and $50,000.
E.H. Clark’s Barn Burned
[People’s Press, 18 June 1907]
The large barn, drive-house and stables of E.H. Clark, (formerly the Jesse Skinner place) at Crowland Centre, were destroyed by fire on Saturday last.
Some of the contents were also burned, including a mower, two pigs and some poultry; also a pair of bob-sleighs and a rig belonging to a neighbor, Job McCauley, which has been stored in the barn.
The origin of the fire is unknown. It is reported there was some insurance.
[Welland Tribune, 31 July 1891]
During the heavy thunder storm yesterday morning Abraham Bradley’s barn and sheds, with contents , were fired by lightning and burned. Mr. Bradley’s loss is very heavy. The barn was a good one, 40×54 feet, and had been lately repaired at considerable expense. In the barn were a valuable team of horses, a binder and other implements, and a great lot of hay, wheat and other grains. We could not learn whether there was any insurance or not…In March last Mr. Bradleys’ residence was destroyed by fire, and no insurance. He then leased the Marshville hotel, to keep matters moving until he could rebuild. This second blow is a hard one, indeed.
[Welland Tribune, 17 March 1905]
The residence of Mrs. E. Peart, West Main street, was very nearly the scene of a disastrous fire on Sunday evening about church time. A burnt tablecloth, burnt carpets, and the remains of what were once curtains were a result of a few minutes work of the fire fiend. Mrs. Peart was alone in the house at the time and had just lighted a gas jet which projected from an archway but unfortunately did not extinguish the match but involuntarily touched it to the fine chenille curtains close by and they were up in smoke in an instant. Mr. Harry Somerville happened to be passing at the time, and helped Mrs. Peart to extinguish the flames.
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