HISTORY
FIRES
FIRES
ST. AUGUSTINE'S SCHOOL FIRES
by Gail Hussey Weir
Created February 2023
by Gail Hussey Weir
Created February 2023
First St. Augustine's School Fire of December 10, 1963
The photo above shows the original 3-storey 1941 school building on the left, known as The Church of England (or Anglican) Academy until 1959. The one-storey section in the middle was opened in 1953 to accommodate the growing school population, as was the auditorium on the right. In 1959, after the new St. Boniface High School opened in 1958, the former Academy was renamed St. Augustine's. From 1953, when the school was expanded, to 1963 when it burned down, it was one of the largest elementary schools of the Anglican Church in Newfoundland.
This St. Augustine's school was totally destroyed by fire on the night of December 10, 1963. In 1963, there were over 600 students in 20 classrooms. There was a large auditorium-gymnasium, a music room and a specially-equipped remedial teaching room. There were 22 teachers, including a music teacher and reading specialist. Following the fire, the students of St. Augustine's were accommodated in six different buildings around Bell Island, where they saw out that school year and the first half of the next. Accommodations were made at the following locations:
Grade 1 was at the Vera Perlin School on Davidson Avenue (just north of Jackson Memorial School);
Grade 2 was at the Salvation Army School on Davidson Avenue;
Grades 3 & 4 were at the Orange Hall on Main Street;
Grades 5 & 6 were at the Vocational School on West Mines Road;
Grade 7 was at St. Boniface RHS in the auditorium;
Grade 8 was at the CLB Armoury on Main Street.
Fire photos below were taken by Tom Careless and are courtesy of his son, Dave Careless. The first one shows the original part of the building that was opened in 1941.
This St. Augustine's school was totally destroyed by fire on the night of December 10, 1963. In 1963, there were over 600 students in 20 classrooms. There was a large auditorium-gymnasium, a music room and a specially-equipped remedial teaching room. There were 22 teachers, including a music teacher and reading specialist. Following the fire, the students of St. Augustine's were accommodated in six different buildings around Bell Island, where they saw out that school year and the first half of the next. Accommodations were made at the following locations:
Grade 1 was at the Vera Perlin School on Davidson Avenue (just north of Jackson Memorial School);
Grade 2 was at the Salvation Army School on Davidson Avenue;
Grades 3 & 4 were at the Orange Hall on Main Street;
Grades 5 & 6 were at the Vocational School on West Mines Road;
Grade 7 was at St. Boniface RHS in the auditorium;
Grade 8 was at the CLB Armoury on Main Street.
Fire photos below were taken by Tom Careless and are courtesy of his son, Dave Careless. The first one shows the original part of the building that was opened in 1941.
?The Evening Telegram? Wed. Dec. 11, 1963, p. 3:
Fire Razes Bell Island School
Fire which broke out at 11:30 Tuesday night [Dec. 10, 1963] totally destroyed St. Augustine’s Anglican School on Bell Island, causing damage estimated at well over $200,000.
Despite the efforts of the Wabana Volunteer Fire Brigade, which was early on the scene, the fire soon got out of control and was still burning fiercely at 12:30 Wednesday morning.
The origin of the fire is unknown. Apparently, the building was unoccupied when the blaze started.
The next photo was taken from Grammer Street and shows the single-storey extension that opened in 1953.
Fire Razes Bell Island School
Fire which broke out at 11:30 Tuesday night [Dec. 10, 1963] totally destroyed St. Augustine’s Anglican School on Bell Island, causing damage estimated at well over $200,000.
Despite the efforts of the Wabana Volunteer Fire Brigade, which was early on the scene, the fire soon got out of control and was still burning fiercely at 12:30 Wednesday morning.
The origin of the fire is unknown. Apparently, the building was unoccupied when the blaze started.
The next photo was taken from Grammer Street and shows the single-storey extension that opened in 1953.
The Daily News, Thurs. Dec. 12, 1963, p. 3:
Fire Tuesday destroyed the $500,000 St. Augustine’s School.
The fire was reported at 11:45 p.m. and when firemen arrived the 15-room school was engulfed in flames. Firemen prevented the fire from spreading to nearby houses in the heavily populated area.
The 20-year-old building accommodated 620 pupils taught by 22 teachers.
Rev. T.S. Smith, rector and board chairman, said everything will be done to have the children use temporary quarters after the Christmas holidays.
This was the second major fire on B. I. in 2 days. Fire Monday partially destroyed the newly constructed BI Community Hospital and delayed further construction for 2 weeks.
The next photo is another view of the original 1941 building.
Fire Tuesday destroyed the $500,000 St. Augustine’s School.
The fire was reported at 11:45 p.m. and when firemen arrived the 15-room school was engulfed in flames. Firemen prevented the fire from spreading to nearby houses in the heavily populated area.
The 20-year-old building accommodated 620 pupils taught by 22 teachers.
Rev. T.S. Smith, rector and board chairman, said everything will be done to have the children use temporary quarters after the Christmas holidays.
This was the second major fire on B. I. in 2 days. Fire Monday partially destroyed the newly constructed BI Community Hospital and delayed further construction for 2 weeks.
The next photo is another view of the original 1941 building.
The Daily News, Sat. Dec. 14, 1963, p. 5:
Says Will Rebuild Fire-Razed School”
Rev. T. E. Smith, Anglican clergyman on Bell Island, said Friday his parish will rebuild the St. Augustine’s Anglican school which was destroyed by fire Tuesday night. Meanwhile, about 100 Grade 8 students have been placed at various schools in the area and negotiations are underway to place the remaining 500 intermediate students who had attended the school. Lester Clark, supervising principal of the school, said all students will be placed by the time school opens in the new year. Principal of the burned school was Joseph Frye, who will supervise operations at various buildings accommodating the students.
In the photo below, an explosion of smoke and flames illuminate the gymnasium.
Says Will Rebuild Fire-Razed School”
Rev. T. E. Smith, Anglican clergyman on Bell Island, said Friday his parish will rebuild the St. Augustine’s Anglican school which was destroyed by fire Tuesday night. Meanwhile, about 100 Grade 8 students have been placed at various schools in the area and negotiations are underway to place the remaining 500 intermediate students who had attended the school. Lester Clark, supervising principal of the school, said all students will be placed by the time school opens in the new year. Principal of the burned school was Joseph Frye, who will supervise operations at various buildings accommodating the students.
In the photo below, an explosion of smoke and flames illuminate the gymnasium.
Second St. Augustine's School Fire of July 2, 1981
The second St. Augustine's Anglican School (below) was a one-storey school erected on the original site and opened January 6, 1965. It was oriented so that the main entrance, seen on the left of the photo, was facing west to Grammer Street. It did not last long, however, as on July 2, 1981 it also burned to the ground. Photo courtesy of Gerald Purcell.
