Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
1933 - Million Dollar Damage Caused By Fire Which Swept Cornwall

One-Sixth of Entire Business Section of Ontario Town is Today a Mass of Ruins - Flames which Originated in Rubbish Pile Destroyed Thirty-One Business Places, Eight Homes and at Least Fifteen Apartments.

Cornwall, Ont. - "Cornwall will come back again" exclaimed Mayor Aaron Harovitz as he stood back with hundreds of people today, viewing the charred and twisted remains of a solid block of fire-razed building places and apartment houses. One-sixth of the city's business section was destroyed by a fire that broke out mid-day Monday without loss of life, but which a damage close to $100,000. Today Cornwall started on the "come back" trail.

Three firemen, Chief George Hunter, deputy Chief Gory Moore and Arthur Conliffe were overcome by the dense smoke that billowed up from the thirty-one business places, eight homes and at least fifteen apartments that were burned. Each man returned to his post after first aid treatment. Three other people were injured.

According to police and firemen, the blaze started in a pile of rubbish behind a garage on Pitt street, owned by R. J. Fursey, fanned by a west wind, the flames jumped to the oilsoaked garage and to the gaunt, frame Victoria Skating Rink fronting on Third street. In a matter of minutes the blaze was beyond control, darting and leaping from building to building.

Reinforced by pumpers from Ottawa and Montreal, Cornwall firemen fought the blaze for five hours, finally gaining the upper hand, but not before the entire down-town section had been threatened.

Every available hoseline in the city was brought into play and finally the flames were conquered. Today Cornwall gazed on twisted, charred wreckage of most of the block bounded by Pitt, Seconnd and Third streets. Along Pitt street, north from the post office and the brick-walled Royal Bank, every building was levelled to Third street, west on Third street, several residences to the north side and ten business places and eight homes on the south side, were razed before the flames burned themselves out.

The Spokesman
Drummondville, Canada
Tuesday, August 1, 1933

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