Historic Fires of Fredericton

Queen Street Fire
July 17, 1854

On Monday night, about 11 o'clock, our city was again visited with one of those destructive conflagrations which, of late years, have been of very frequent occurrence. The fire originated in Mr. Wiley's work shop, in the rear of his wareroom, on Queen street, communicating with Westmorland street, it next consumed the house owned by Hon. Charles Fisher, and occupied by Mr. Barrett.

It then passed along Westmorland street, on either hand, to Queen and King streets, and burnt, on the corner of the former, the large store and dwelling house owned and occupied by Mr. Hale, and set on fire the buildings on the opposite block; and on the latter the corner house formerly owned by Mr. W. Hartt was soon enveloped in flames, which spread down King street, burning the houses owned and occupied by Messers, Burt and Wiley, and by great exertion were checked at the residence of Mr. A. Phair, Postmaster, which was burnt to the ground.

In a few minutes the buildings on both sides of Queen street were being destroyed with the greatest rapidity; on the east side down to the building owned by Mr. Clark, and on the west the entire block, including the buildings intervening between that and the river, Mr. Coburn's store being the only exception.

Thus in about four hours forty-six dwelling houses and stores, besides a large number of out-buildings, were reduced to ashes. The wind was at first quite light, but the intense heat soon caused a very strong current from the south-west, which, fortunately for the rest of the city, drove the flames towards the river; otherwise it is impossible to say where they would hove stopped. There had not been any ruin for some time, consequently everything was in the most combustible state.

Among the numerous sufferers arc Messrs. Wiley, Hale, Richards, Winter, Thorne, Armour, Barber, Bradley, Lucas, Hogg, McPherson, Stentiford, Boon, Yerxa, Atherton, proprietor, of the City Hotel, Segee, of the North American, Lemont, and Coburn - the latter having lost his fine dwelling house and had his goods and furniture much damaged.

We sincerely sympathize with our follow citizens, especially those of them, who were not insured, and it Is much to be deplored that many are in this unfortunate situation.

From the greater number of the stores and houses the goods and furniture were in a great part removed, but were carried in the direction of the river, and were consumed before they could possibly be again rescued.

The loss of property is about £40,000, of which about £9,000 was covered by insurance, the Central Insurance Company losing £3440, the Equitable, over £2000, and the balance being in American offices.

We also deeply regret the loss that our respected friend the Editor and Proprietor of the Reporter has sustained. The derangement of everything connected with his Office must inevitably prevent him paper from appearing this week, but we trust he may soon be comfortably settled and enabled speedily to repair his reverses. We understand Mr. Hogg has taken an office over the store of James S. Beck, Esq., corner of Queen and Westmorland streets, where he will recommence operations immediately.