Historic Fires of Fredericton

The Exhibition Palace was one of the largest and most ornate wooden buildings in existence when it was completed in 1864. The city built the structure in hopes of hosting a Provincial Exhibition.

The following article appeared in the Saint John Globe newspaper on October 30, 1877.

Oct 30, 1877
FREDERICTON - About 1 o'clock this morning, the citizens were startled by hearing another alarm of fire. At the scene of the conflagration it was found that the shed adjoining the Exhibition Palace was in flames. The fire quickly communicated to the Palace and in less than 10 minutes, the whole building was wrapped in flames.

The wind at the time was blowing very heavy from the north west, carrying burning cinders to the lower end of the city and setting a great many buildings on fire.

In the Palace were stowed sleighs and other articles owned by many citizens. Some of the contents were saved.

Buildings Destroyed:
- Exhibition Palace (No insurance)
- Cottage on Westmorland Street owned by William McLaughlin and occupied by himself, his wife and a colored man named Cotton. (No insurance)
- On Saunders Street, 1½ story house owned and occupied by Thos. Torrance and Mrs. Bigger. A small flat-roofed building owned by Mr. Torrance and occupied by Mr. Matthew Jarvis was badly damaged. (No insurance)
- A Barn belonging to Mr. Maxwell situated in the rear of his residence on Charlotte Street was also destroyed. (No insurance)

At the outbreak of the fire, the steamer "City of Fredericton" took her stand at George Street tank, where she remained doing splendid service. The steamer "Alexandria" played from Charlotte Street tank which she quickly emptied. During her stay, she fought the fire nobly and at length was compelled to go to King Street tank. At this period it was found that she had not enough hose and in consequence was compelled to cease working and was taken back to the engine house. The fire is said to be the work of an incendiary.

DEATH
A man named Perkins died this morning. His death was caused, it is said, by fright received during the fire.

RESCUE
During the fire, William McLaughlin and wife, an aged couple, came very near to losing their lives. Had it not been for Alfred Edgecombe and Samuel Cook, who had put them out at the window, all other means of escape being cut off, the aged pair would have been left to their fate, on account of dense smoke.

It was replaced by a large Wooden building, but it was burned in 1882. Two men were sentenced to the penitentiary for that arson. The next exhibition building was on the site of the present exhibition grounds (seen at right). It burned in 1939.