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PORT PERRY STAR ye CENTENNIAL EDITION The following is an account of Port Perry's disastrous fires of 1883 and 1884 as taken from Samuel Farmer's book On The Shores of Scugog. The two blazes destroyed the Village's entire business district -- . -- Two fires in less than a year wiped Port Perry's business section out of exis- tance. In November of 1883, the first fire broke out im the Thompson House, then known as Ruddy's Hotel, which was situated on the site of the Sebert House. Back of the hotel was Lewis McLean's house which was quickly cept a hand engine which the town had bought from Toronto, and which was known as Rescue No. 2. Added to that was the fact that a number of the buildings were wooden, and naturally the fire spread rapidly From the Sebert House corner along the north side of Queen St., to Mc- Caw's Jewelry store every- thing was burned. The fire was only stopped by blow- ing up some stabling at the back of the Brunswick House, which was then owned and run by Jonathan Biong. Winter came on right after this fire, and but little was done toward rebuilding before a bigger fire than ever broke out. What the fire of 1883 missed, the fire of 1884 destroyed The prevalence of wood- en buildings, and the bad fire of the previous year, had caused insurance pre- miums to be placed at a very high rate. The result was that very few business men the town carried insurance, so that when the fire did come, the loss was direct and large At twenty minutes to twelve p.m., on July 3rd, As Port Perry Celebrates Its 100» Birthday... (above) azes Of 1883 And 1884 Destroy Heart Of Village PORT PERRY AFTER THE FIRE OF 1884 i884, the big fire started im the sheds of Ben: Mc- Quary"s hotel (owned by Neil Sinclair) which stood on the site of the new post office. By daylight, which came at that season of the year about four o'clock in the morning, every place of business on the main street was burnt, except Wm. Tummond's store. John Roiph said that he with many others were busy carrying goods from the stores west of the hotel, and he did not know until next morning that the stores east of the hotel had been destroyed, too Goods were carried out of the stores and dumped on the other side of the street or rolled down the hill along Perry Street only to be consumed by the fire shortly after. There was a strong south west wind blowing at the time, and it is almost miraculous that more buildings were not burned. Sparks and bits of red hot coals were flying in showers, and lighting on the roofs of WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1971 -- Page 21 the houses to the north ofthe town More than one house was saved by a broom from catching on fire. Men would cil on the roofs and sweep off the sparks as they fell. This method seems to have been very effective. At that time Leonard Burnett was farming near Greenbank, and on the morning after the fire he found in his field large numbers of partially burn- ed billheads, belonging to Jones Bors, The wind hac (top photo) them during the night. evidently carried there Village people were in most helpless circumstances immediately after the fire until supplies came in on the train. Farmers who drove in to see the ruins found the townspeople without bread, and hur- ried back home where their wives were soon busy baking. Energetic business men naturally turned their attention to putting up temporary places of bus- iness, but they were power- less to act at once for there was not a pound of nails to be had, and ham mers and saws were very scarce, A public meeting was held in the town hall, where the whole situation was. discussed, and a by- law passed forbidding the erection of wooden build- ings within the business area. The building regula also required that the stores have a uniform line of frontage. Previously the buildings had been erected in such position on the lot as suited the fancy of the owner. The result was that the street had a very irregular appearance. The new plan did away with all this, and now, as may be seen the stores line up uniformly, and very few places of the size of Port Perry make such a creditable showing in their business section tions Wendel (Bob) Fox of W.W. Welding with son team. Left, Wendel (Bob) and TUNGSTON INERT GAS WELDING. right, Wayne. Specially made to weld Aluminum, hibnimeneeng =~" P We do general maintenance welding "ON THE SPOT" No Job Too Big or Too Small. W.W. Welding is comprised of a father, W.W. Welding will give you the versatility of "ALL POSITION WELDING" We are a Mobile Unit so if you call and can not get an answer, Please Call Back.