There have been many large and sometimes tragic fires through the years in the Lower Island Cove area.
I can remember one large fire which started at the now abandoned open burn garbage dump and spread southeast towards the highway near the present Flambro Head Heritage Society Museum. I remember riding the school bus through the thick smoke that day along the highway.
Another forest fire started at a point on the east side of Beachy Cove pond and spread northeast across the hill towards Redlands and the Hudson's farm area. Luckily both fires were contained before reaching any homes.
Can any readers remember the years these fires occurred?
Here's a few write ups I came across related to fires in the Lower Island Cove area.
I can remember one large fire which started at the now abandoned open burn garbage dump and spread southeast towards the highway near the present Flambro Head Heritage Society Museum. I remember riding the school bus through the thick smoke that day along the highway.
Another forest fire started at a point on the east side of Beachy Cove pond and spread northeast across the hill towards Redlands and the Hudson's farm area. Luckily both fires were contained before reaching any homes.
Can any readers remember the years these fires occurred?
Here's a few write ups I came across related to fires in the Lower Island Cove area.
Some of the items below will be disturbing to read.
George Robbins Fire
This incident happened in Lower Island Cove - August 1887. An unthinkable tragedy.
The letter written by Rev. Wm. Kendall paints a picture of the way of life at the time. The kids were left home alone. Mrs. Robbins left early morning to help her husband George salt some fish which he caught the night before in the waters around Baccalieu Island. I find it amazing that a 6 year old would be operating the woodstove. Kids learned these skills at a much younger age back in those days. Unfortunately the poor state of the stove funnels caused a fire which engulfed the house and its inhabitants - which were all children.
It appears that there was no water close by to extinguish the fire. Most Robbins families lived on what's known today as Robbins Hill (area entering LIC from the south - Job's Cove side). It is a fair distance uphill from Lower Island Cove pond, which would have been a great source of water. It's safe to say that firetrucks and the like were not available in LIC in the late 1800s.
Can anybody from the Robbins family verify where the house was located?
It appears that there was no water close by to extinguish the fire. Most Robbins families lived on what's known today as Robbins Hill (area entering LIC from the south - Job's Cove side). It is a fair distance uphill from Lower Island Cove pond, which would have been a great source of water. It's safe to say that firetrucks and the like were not available in LIC in the late 1800s.
Can anybody from the Robbins family verify where the house was located?
It was a terrible day in Lower Island Cove.
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| Evening Telegram, August 18,1887 |
Here's a thank you from George Robbins the following month. In Newfoundland fashion, it sounds like people offered assistance and financial support, from places as far away as Lamaline.
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| Evening Telegram, September 29, 1887 |
Alexander Garland Jr. Fire
A couple articles below describe a large fire that wiped out Mr. Alexander Garland Jr.'s business in August 1916.
The damage was immense, wiping out shops, stores and the oil refinery. 1500 gallons of refined cod oil was lost. $10,000 was an enormous amount to lose in 1916, with no insurance.
A similar write up below from two more newspapers. The last statement "Only the calm night saved the eastern end of the town" is interesting. It must have been a very large blaze.
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| St. John's Daily Star, August 15, 1916 |
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| Evening Telegram, August 15, 1916 |
Edwin Turner Fire
Another serious fire described below that happened May 11, 1893. Mr. Edwin Turner's fishing premises burnt down with great loses. It appears an arson investigation was taking place. It also sounds like a lot of speculation to the cause of teh I wonder where these structures stood?
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| Evening Telegram, June 14, 1893 |
Agnes Colbert / Ronald Davis Fire - Job's Cove
It was reported just before Christmas, December 14, 1922.
In this terrible accident, Miss Agnes Colbert of Job's Cove filled a kerosene lamp with gasoline after depleting her supply of kerosene.
Ronald Davis lived in the house as a winter helper. Both were burned badly when the lamp exploded, and the house was lost. Nurse Hudson from Lower Island Cove arrived to offer assistance, along with Dr. McCean who came all the way from Witless Bay.
I wonder if the burn victims survived after receiving such extensive burns?
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| Evening Telegram, December 14, 1922 |
Hope you enjoyed reading these old clippings. Check back soon for more LIC area history writeups.
S.
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