The Great Fire of 1866 left gaping hole in downtown

Phil Egan

Daniel Mackenzie’s Dry Goods Store on Front Street was one of the most popular shopping venues in the town in 1866. Just north of Mackenzie’s sat a two-storey frame building. It was shared between Mr. Cotter, who operated an Exchange Office, and Mr. R.B. Brown and his wife, who ran a bakery and confectionary shop.

At 11 a.m. on Jan. 8, Mrs. Brown was shocked to discover that the east side of the upper floor was engulfed in fire. She cried out for Mr. Cotter, who raced into the street, sounding the alarm.

A crowd quickly gathered but it became readily apparent the fire had too much headway to be easily extinguished. Men rushed into the burning building and began removing as much furniture and supplies as they could carry and dumping it in the middle of Front Street.

Immediately north of the fire scene, another wood frame building housed Moses Masuret’s Grocery Store. As the crowd watched in shock, flames leaped from the roof of the bakery and exchange office onto Masuret’s roof and quickly ignited. With the contents of the first building mainly saved, the task of emptying the grocery store was hurriedly undertaken.

The Phoenix Fire Company arrived, running with a fire engine in tow. They parked the engine on the dock and rushed to pull the leather hose from the river’s edge up to Front Street. By now, two buildings were engulfed in flames and sections of Mackenzie’s store as well.

As people emptied stock from multiple shops and businesses and carted it to the street, the middle of Front took on the appearance of a bazaar.

And with the crowd distracted, some of the less savoury citizens of the town began to help themselves to the unprotected stock of goods.

As the firemen concentrated their efforts to the south of the original fire, Masuret’s Grocery to the north was now totally in flames. Immediately north of it sat Belchamber’s Hotel. The contents of the Belchamber were added to the piles on Front, and soon the hotel was also ablaze. Despite the best efforts of the firemen, the fire continued to creep north, and eastward.

Flaming embers filled the air and more than an hour had passed since the first cry of “fire!” As horses reared in terror, a livery stable on Lochiel Street was soon engulfed in flames.

By the time the fire was finally put out, the Front Street block between Lochiel and Cromwell streets and much of Lochiel Street as well was a mass of destruction.