by Charlotte Vidal Nisbet for the Sarnia Observer
[Editors Note: A 1941 story describing a fire that wrecked the Sarnia waterfront in 1896]
(1941) The only Sunday morning that I know of when the bells of St. Andrew’s Church were silent and there was no gathering of our people for divine worship was on May 17, 1896.
In the early morning the great fire began at King’s Mill, then at 8 am the Hub and Spoke factory blazed endangering the church, our neighbours, and our house [Editor’s Note – this refers to the two frame houses torn down to build the Drawbridge Inn in 1964]. “No morning service at church” is the extract taken from my father’s diary.
In spite of the efforts of the fire team and volunteer helpers, it soon grew past control. It was a terrible blaze. [Editor’s Note – the factory was located on the river, directly across from today’s City Hall].
Burning fragments of wood were blown by a fierce wind to other buildings. The Hub and Spoke factory, full of inflammable (sic) material burnt like tinder. Immediately across the street was the brick residence of James King, the owner of the mill. Soon the porch and roof were on fire and it kept the volunteers busy saving the house, but worse was to come.
By this time the blazing embers had set fire to the roof of St. Andrew’s Church and the Sunday School in many places. What a morning that was. My husband and many others with him worked for hours to save the church. As time went on, it seemed a hopeless task. Mr. Nisbet sent me a message to gather the things I care about in a big sheet or blanket. If the church went nothing could save Dr. Fraser’s house next to ours, or our own. I hurried upstairs to make bundles my father and the children could carry.
The children and father were using our garden hose and pails of water to put out each outbreak on our roof. It was a dreadful Sunday of suspense and fear but mercifully we were spared.
How thankful we were to hear the bell for the evening service in the church that was so dear to us.
Again our church and homes were threatened on November 22, 1912 when the big elevator on the south mouth of Black River in Port Huron burned. Blazing shingles were blown by a fierce wind all the way across the river and set fire to many places in Sarnia, even as far back as East Street.