HISTORY
FIRES
This page will describe some of the known significant fires that occurred on Bell Island over the years.
TOWN SQUARE FIRES
Town Square Fire of January 14-15, 1937
from Submarine Miner, Nov. 1954:
"One of the worst conflagrations in the history of Bell Island occurred on January 14th, 1937. In a high wind and freezing rain, the Brigade was called upon to perform an almost impossible task in combating a fire which broke out on Town Square, the main business section of the Island. For hours they battled the raging inferno which, before it could be brought under control, had destroyed seven dwellings and fourteen business premises. But for their Herculean efforts on that night, scores of other homes and business places in the district would have been razed."
from the Daily News, Jan. 1937:
"On the 14th of January, 1937, business was carried on as usual on Town Square. Fronting on this busy but narrow street were upwards of 30 stores and dwellings. It was the heart of the shopping district, for in that congested area most of the business of the mining town was carried on. When the next day dawned, most of that business section was level with the ground. During the night, at least 20 stores and homes had been wiped out, and the space from Benny Glick's store on the hill near Bennett Street to Basha's building on the lower end of the Square was a blackened waste, with smoke still rising from its ruins."
Some of the homes and businesses destroyed on west side were: Eugene Kennedy, Charles Cohen, Mendelsohn, Noah, J.J. Tucker, L.J. Lawton, Chas. Andrews barber; on east side: Prosperity Store, Bell Island Drug Store with residence of Dr. W. Templeman and dental office of Dr. H.F. Giovannetti, Carbage's Fruit Store, Elias Basha's store, Nathan Cohen's house and store, the Wabana Shoe Store and home of W.F. Billingsley, Elias Gosine's house and store.
Rebuilding began as soon as possible in the devastated area. By August, Elias Gosine, W.F. Billingsley, Nathan Cohen, Elias Basha and Mrs. M. Carbage were rebuilding on the east side of the street. A dwelling was going up at the rear of E. Basha's store where the proprietor was building a hotel. James Case was building a drug store on that side of the street for John Fleming. On the west side of the Square, the following construction was going on: David Feder was building a one-storey store on the land where the foundation of the Goldstone fortune was laid. Eugene Kennedy had built a two-storey house. Then came Charles Cohen's store and house. Next to that was J.J. Tucker's building with the largest floor space on the Square, 125' x 57'. L.J. Lawton had built a new drug store on the ruins of the old and it was described as one of the finest in the country."
Some of the homes and businesses destroyed on west side were: Eugene Kennedy, Charles Cohen, Mendelsohn, Noah, J.J. Tucker, L.J. Lawton, Chas. Andrews barber; on east side: Prosperity Store, Bell Island Drug Store with residence of Dr. W. Templeman and dental office of Dr. H.F. Giovannetti, Carbage's Fruit Store, Elias Basha's store, Nathan Cohen's house and store, the Wabana Shoe Store and home of W.F. Billingsley, Elias Gosine's house and store.
Rebuilding began as soon as possible in the devastated area. By August, Elias Gosine, W.F. Billingsley, Nathan Cohen, Elias Basha and Mrs. M. Carbage were rebuilding on the east side of the street. A dwelling was going up at the rear of E. Basha's store where the proprietor was building a hotel. James Case was building a drug store on that side of the street for John Fleming. On the west side of the Square, the following construction was going on: David Feder was building a one-storey store on the land where the foundation of the Goldstone fortune was laid. Eugene Kennedy had built a two-storey house. Then came Charles Cohen's store and house. Next to that was J.J. Tucker's building with the largest floor space on the Square, 125' x 57'. L.J. Lawton had built a new drug store on the ruins of the old and it was described as one of the finest in the country."
The photo above is of the ruins of Town Square following the January 1937 fire, looking south up Town Square. On the left horizon is Louis Lawton's house (still standing in 2021). An early version of Immaculate Conception School can be seen behind the two-storey house just right of middle, then the Convent. On the right horizon is the Orange Hall.
The photo below is looking north at the ruins in the bottom half of Town Square. On the left is the DOSCO Survey Office. Just right of middle is the DOSCO Surgery, with William Somerton's Company house next. The Somerton house and Survey Office are still standing in 2021.
The photo below is looking north at the ruins in the bottom half of Town Square. On the left is the DOSCO Survey Office. Just right of middle is the DOSCO Surgery, with William Somerton's Company house next. The Somerton house and Survey Office are still standing in 2021.
The Lawton's Drugstore Fire of December 17, 1963
“Giant Fire Races Through Wabana”
from the Daily News, Wed. Dec. 18, 1963, p. 3
from the Daily News, Wed. Dec. 18, 1963, p. 3
"Fire raced through Town Square in downtown Wabana Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, and up to Daily News press time, had destroyed Lawton’s Drug Store, Mercer’s Snack Bar, the supermarket building formerly occupied by Bowring's, several utility buildings, and threatened other houses and shops. Volunteer Bell Island firemen along with six men from St. John’s fire department, and three fire engines battled the blaze which is said to have broken out in the drug store storeroom approximately 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Reports from the Island early this morning said that the fire had been brought under control around 12:30 and the danger was believed gone. All the buildings going up the hill from the drug store were in danger. With a northwest wind blowing and temperatures well below freezing, fire fighters encountered extreme difficulties. Up to press time early this morning, no injuries had been reported.
On the street opposite the fire center is located St. Kevin’s RC School, the Immaculate Conception school and convent. School authorities quickly removed all records from St. Kevin’s Tuesday night fearing a spread of the fire.
Bell Island fire chief Malcolm Blackmore commands some 48 volunteers, but some of these were on DOSCO company work shifts in the mines at the time of the fire. The fire fighters worked with two pumpers, in addition to the truck and Jeep which came from St. John’s at 10:25 p.m. Tuesday. One pumper was connected to the company’s water line, while 1,000 feet of hose was run out from the one hydrant in the vicinity. Difficulty was experienced early in the fire when the hose was broken by vehicles passing over it, but this was soon remedied when RCMP prohibited the flow of traffic. Thousands of town's people went to the scene and RCMP had a difficult time in holding back the crowds.
Nearby the fire location is Bennett Street where other threatened buildings include the building formerly occupied by the Great Eastern Oil Company Limited, Bennett’s dwelling, and a snack bar operated by John Bennett. The house just up the hill from the destroyed drug store is owned by John Kennedy. When the fire was gaining progress Tuesday night, the Kennedy family evacuated the dwelling and took their belongings. Several other residents who live in the area of the blaze also took the precaution of removing some belongings and moving to other shelters for the night.
While no estimation of damage was available at press time, it is reported that the loss will go into many thousands of dollars, as much Christmas stock in addition to other stocks was destroyed in the drug store. The hill out of Town Square does not contain the largest Wabana business houses, but it is located in the section of Wabana which is the most highly populated."
On the street opposite the fire center is located St. Kevin’s RC School, the Immaculate Conception school and convent. School authorities quickly removed all records from St. Kevin’s Tuesday night fearing a spread of the fire.
Bell Island fire chief Malcolm Blackmore commands some 48 volunteers, but some of these were on DOSCO company work shifts in the mines at the time of the fire. The fire fighters worked with two pumpers, in addition to the truck and Jeep which came from St. John’s at 10:25 p.m. Tuesday. One pumper was connected to the company’s water line, while 1,000 feet of hose was run out from the one hydrant in the vicinity. Difficulty was experienced early in the fire when the hose was broken by vehicles passing over it, but this was soon remedied when RCMP prohibited the flow of traffic. Thousands of town's people went to the scene and RCMP had a difficult time in holding back the crowds.
Nearby the fire location is Bennett Street where other threatened buildings include the building formerly occupied by the Great Eastern Oil Company Limited, Bennett’s dwelling, and a snack bar operated by John Bennett. The house just up the hill from the destroyed drug store is owned by John Kennedy. When the fire was gaining progress Tuesday night, the Kennedy family evacuated the dwelling and took their belongings. Several other residents who live in the area of the blaze also took the precaution of removing some belongings and moving to other shelters for the night.
While no estimation of damage was available at press time, it is reported that the loss will go into many thousands of dollars, as much Christmas stock in addition to other stocks was destroyed in the drug store. The hill out of Town Square does not contain the largest Wabana business houses, but it is located in the section of Wabana which is the most highly populated."