Historic Fires of Fredericton

    Provincial Hall Fire
    February 22, 1880

Province Hall In the early days, members of the Legislative Assembly met in temporary quarters but in 1803 a frame building, "Province Hall", was erected on the present site. By 1880 many people were dissatisfied with Province Hall as the seat of government. One man described it as a "disgraceful looking and shabby, ill-ventilated shanty". Another account described it as a "commodious, plain wooden structure".

Plans for a new building had been delayed due to an acrimonious debate between the citizens of Saint John and Fredericton as to which city should be the seat of the legislature. However, by February 4, 1880 the winner of the competition for an architect to design the new building was announced. His name was J.C. Dumaresq. It is interesting to note that a complete set of the original drawings on linen is carefully preserved in the Legislative Assembly Building.

Fire!
Taken shortly before the fire Once the plans were accepted the government advertised for tenders. On February 25, 1880 the New Brunswick Reporter stated that there would be from twenty to twenty-five contractors tendering for the new Provincial Buildings and it was probable that the lowest tender would be considerably less than was expected. On this day those working in the old building preparing for the opening of the House could smell a fire smoldering but could not locate it. The fire bells were rung at 10 p.m. but the roof and upper floor of the building were completely destroyed.

It was a bitter cold February night. Although a dozen companies could not save the old dry wooden structure, they did manage to salvage many objects of inestimable value. The Throne (Speaker's chair) and the Clerk's original marble-top desk were rescued from the fire. Also the costly hand-painted screen that adorns the wall behind the judge's bench in the Supreme Court Chamber, an old oak table brought by Loyalists from New York which is still in service in the Judge's Chambers of the present edifice, and many volumes from the law library.

Investigators decided that the cause of the blaze was "a register grate too close to the carrying timbers". The fire also fanned the flames of agitation for locating the seat of government in Saint John, however, the opponents of the Fredericton site were finally defeated in the Legislature and the list of tenders for the new building was tabled on March 16.

Built in 1882 While the present Legislative Assembly was being constructed, Members of the Legislature met in the Provincial Normal School, located on the site of the present Justice Building on Queen Street.

Thirty-two contractors submitted bids ranging from $61,900 to $94,200. William Lawlor submitted two bids, $61,900 for a brick building and $68,880 for one in stone. The second bid was accepted.

There was a tremendous amount of public interest in the construction of the building and all the details involved. One editorial suggested that the Legislature should be a "credit in point of design, elegance and architecture to the province". By May 17, proceedings were finally underway. Mr. Lawlor, the contractor, had arrived in town and commenced the tearing down of "the old landmark".