Historic Fires of Fredericton

Queen Street Fire
May 22, 1849

It becomes our painful duty to record the most destructive conflagration with which this City has been visited since the Fire which laid Fredericton almost waste in 1825.

On Tuesday last between 10 and 11 o'clock, a.m., flames were observed bursting forth from out buildings in the rear of the premises occupied by Mr. Thomas Stewart, and those formerly known as the Market Inn, occupied by the Publisher of this paper, and so fearfully rapid was the progress of the fire, that in less than ten minutes Mr. Stewart's dwelling house, and that occupied by Mr. J. P. A. Phillips, were in flames.

The Engines were promptly on the spot, and the most vigorous efforts were made to subdue the fire, but in a few minutes it become apparent that this could not be accomplished until a huge portion of that densely built portion of the City was consumed.

The fire speedily communicated to the buildings on Queen Street, occupied by Mr. J. McIntosh as a Tavern, (formerly owned by the late Mr. James Willox,) on the one side, and to the dwelling house of Mrs. Wm. Taylor, in which was the Store of James Taylor. Senr. & Co. on the other. A few minutes later the dwelling house of James Taylor, Esp., M. P. P., was discovered to be on fire, and from this point the flames speedily spread up Taylor's Alley, destroying the extensive back stores belonging to the Estate of James Taylor, Senr. & Co., until they reached King Street, consuming the dwelling house of Mr. J. G. Harding, Cabinet Maker, and two others on King Street on the lower side of the Alley, and a large two story dwelling house belonging to Mr. Donald McLeod, on the upper side.

On Queen Street the fire spread upwards from the store of the Messrs. Taylor to that of Mr. Wm. A. McLean, and from thence to the dwelling house occupied by Mr. John Reilly and others, thence upwards to the Book Store of Mr. Francis Beverly, completely destroying everything in it's progress, and finally enveloped the building occupied as a store by Mr. George A. Perley, and as offices by the Hon, Solicitor General and B. C. Friel, Esq.

At this building a most determined stand was made to arrest the further progress of the devouring element. The energies of our best and most experienced Firemen were here brought to bear with a perseverance and which if beyond all praise, aided by both military and civilians with an alacrity and zeal which cannot soon be forgotten. We are strongly tempted to notice individual instances of labor and daring of no ordinary description manifested at this point but where all did their duty so admirably, we feel that it is better to forbear.

Along The line from Mr. Perley's through to King Street, there was a large collection of combustible matter in the yards and out buildings. The lumberyard of Mr. J. G-Harding, containing stacks of boards and other lumber - His cabinet makers' shop and wooden erections intervening, were several times partially on fire, but it was felt that if the fire mastered them at this place, and communicated with Mr. Harding's shop and lumber yard on King Street, or with the dwelling house and store of Mr. H. S. Beek on Queen Street, nothing could prevent it from sweeping down the southern side of Regent Street, and it is doubtful if it could have been stopped even then.

For a time it seemed impossible that the exertions of the people could be crowned with success; but a slight change of wind occurring, and these exertions being redoubled, the flames were at last got under without seriously injuring Mr. Beek's house, Mr. Harding's shop and lumber yard, or the intermediate buildings.

His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor was early at the scene of destruction, not as a spectator, but when assistance was called for by the captain of one of the engines, the Lieutenant Governor quietly took off his coat and fell to work at the brake with as much good will and vigor as the most determined fireman belonging to the engine.

His Lordship the Bishop was also busily employed in handing water and removing property out of the reach of the flames, and we noticed several of his clergy similarly employed; nor was this praise-worthy conduct confined to the clergymen of the Church of England. We noticed every clergyman in town, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist, engaged in the like good work. The labours of our fire companies, and of the inhabitants generally, in saving furniture and moveable property was, what it has always hitherto been, deserving of every commendation.

Col. Brown and the officers of the gallant 1st Royal Regiment have shown themselves everything which could be desired of British officers throughout the whole affair; but while we most willingly accord just praise to the officers, we must not forget what is due to the non-commissioned officers and privates of the Royal Regiment, and of the Royal Artillery stationed in this garrison.

The conduct of the private soldiers was most praiseworthy. Not only did they willingly and promptly lend their most efficient and much required aid during the raging of the devouring element, with a zeal only equaled by that of the owners of property in danger, but even after the flames were subdued, and when the energies of our own citizens seemed to have died away with the excitement, the good feeling, and excellent disposition of the soldiers were displayed by their endeavors to quench the heaps of living embers and burning beams, which, should the wind get high, still threatened further destruction to the City.

We saw them carrying water from every accessible quarter, scattering the burning timbers, and quenching the fire by every means in their power, while crowds around them were quietly looking on. We repeat that the conduct of the privates of the 1st Royals was most admirable, and should be gratefully remembered by our good citizens.

The number of different buildings destroyed is upwards of thirty; the number of families burned out is about twenty-five. Mr. Stewart is a very heavy loser, having no insurance on three dwellings, besides his store which were burned. A part of his furniture was also destroyed, and his loss in goods must have been considerable.

The Messrs Taylor are also heavy losers, both in houses and in furniture; but we understand part of their property was covered by an insurance of £700 in the Central Fire Insurance Office. The Staples property was insured for £500 in an American office. The building occupied by Mr. George A. Perley was insured by an American office for £300, and the building owned by Mr. D. McLeod for £150, in the Central; Mr. J. G Harding had £100 insured on his dwelling house, and Mr. J. McIntosh had also an insurance of £300 on his premises, both in an American office. We believe these are the only insurances on the property destroyed.-

The origin of the fire is still unknown.