HISTORY
FIRES
FIRES
THE STAFF HOUSE FIRE
May 20, 1956
by Gail Hussey Weir
Created February 2023
May 20, 1956
by Gail Hussey Weir
Created February 2023
On May 20, 1956, in the early morning hours, the 3-storey Company Staff House on the East Track where it meets Church Road (opposite the Sports Field) burnt to the ground. 12 people, comprised of six female household staff and six male boarders, escaped without serious injury. A seventh male boarder, Aime Moquin, perished in the fire. The photo above is from the 1940s newspaper, The Bell Islander.
A compilation of who was in the Staff House on May 20, 1956
based on the newspaper stories following:
based on the newspaper stories following:
1. Miss Jean Gray, Matron of the Staff House
2. Mary Hunt, 24, from Riverhead, Harbour Grace, domestic worker
3. Angela Callahan, 24, from Riverhead, Harbour Grace, domestic worker (Mary & Angela were quoted as saying, “there were 5 of us; I assume they meant there were 5 domestics, which would bring the total to 13 as reported below.)
4. Unnamed domestic
5. Unnamed domestic
6. Unnamed domestic
7. Ed Murphy, personnel manager
8. Dr. Rufus Dominic, MD
9. Bob Kosy
10. Gus Sigouin
11. Ron Turner
12. Gordie Phelan, Electrical Engineer
13. Aime Moquin, 30, single, French-Canadian chief electrician with Howard F. Simpkin Company, electrical contractors, Montreal
2. Mary Hunt, 24, from Riverhead, Harbour Grace, domestic worker
3. Angela Callahan, 24, from Riverhead, Harbour Grace, domestic worker (Mary & Angela were quoted as saying, “there were 5 of us; I assume they meant there were 5 domestics, which would bring the total to 13 as reported below.)
4. Unnamed domestic
5. Unnamed domestic
6. Unnamed domestic
7. Ed Murphy, personnel manager
8. Dr. Rufus Dominic, MD
9. Bob Kosy
10. Gus Sigouin
11. Ron Turner
12. Gordie Phelan, Electrical Engineer
13. Aime Moquin, 30, single, French-Canadian chief electrician with Howard F. Simpkin Company, electrical contractors, Montreal
From The Daily News, Monday May 21, 1956, p. 3:
Electrician is Burned To Death At Wabana
Loses Life When Staff House Is Razed To Ground
Twelve Escape
A $25,000 fire on Bell Island early yesterday morning took the life of Aime Moquin, a middle-aged French Canadian working on the Island. Moquin died when fire levelled the Staff House of the Dominion Wabana Ore Limited.
The fire broke out around five a.m. and razed unchecked for two hours before the Island’s fire brigade could get it under control and out. MoQuin’s body was not discovered for some four hours after the flames had been quenched.
The sleeping occupants of the building were awakened by the approaching tongues of flames and, with the exception of MoQuin, all managed to make their escape. Two men sleeping in the top storey of the building used a rope to lower themselves to the ground and safety.
A man sleeping in the same room as the victim told reporters that he thought he had roused MoQuin before he made his own escape. Later it was revealed that the unfortunate man – Newfoundland’s thirteenth fire victim this year – had been trapped on the fourth storey.
By the time firemen had been called and reached the scene, the fire was completely out of control and they could do nothing but stand by and watch the building burn while they fought to keep it from spreading to other nearby buildings.
The fire was described by officials as the worst on Bell Island in several years. Damage to the building itself was estimated at $25,000, while the occupants lost all of their personal belongings.
RCMP officials are continuing to investigate the blaze in an effort to determine its cause.
Electrician is Burned To Death At Wabana
Loses Life When Staff House Is Razed To Ground
Twelve Escape
A $25,000 fire on Bell Island early yesterday morning took the life of Aime Moquin, a middle-aged French Canadian working on the Island. Moquin died when fire levelled the Staff House of the Dominion Wabana Ore Limited.
The fire broke out around five a.m. and razed unchecked for two hours before the Island’s fire brigade could get it under control and out. MoQuin’s body was not discovered for some four hours after the flames had been quenched.
The sleeping occupants of the building were awakened by the approaching tongues of flames and, with the exception of MoQuin, all managed to make their escape. Two men sleeping in the top storey of the building used a rope to lower themselves to the ground and safety.
A man sleeping in the same room as the victim told reporters that he thought he had roused MoQuin before he made his own escape. Later it was revealed that the unfortunate man – Newfoundland’s thirteenth fire victim this year – had been trapped on the fourth storey.
By the time firemen had been called and reached the scene, the fire was completely out of control and they could do nothing but stand by and watch the building burn while they fought to keep it from spreading to other nearby buildings.
The fire was described by officials as the worst on Bell Island in several years. Damage to the building itself was estimated at $25,000, while the occupants lost all of their personal belongings.
RCMP officials are continuing to investigate the blaze in an effort to determine its cause.
From The Evening Telegram, Monday May 21, 1956:
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From the Daily News, Sat. May 26, 1956, p. 10
Tragic Death Aime Moquin 
Photo above courtesy of his god-daughter, Sharon (O'Leary) Keels. Photo below from "findagrave.com"
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