Jim O'Neill - A life-time of fires

Some of the more spectacular fires as remembered by retired Deputy Chief James O'Neill between 1929 & 1979, starting as a six year old boy and through out a career in the fire service

January 22,1929
400 hundred block of Queen St. where old Zellers building now stands. This fire wiped out all this block from the Bank of Commerce to the Edgecome Bldg. (Wilson Insurance )

May 5th, 1929
The Provincial Normal School (now the Justice Building)

January 30,1930
A.J. Ryan building located on Queen St. Between Royol Bank and Morrison Insurance.

April 9th, 1930
Warehouse used by Chestnut Canoe Company (now Gibsons Feed Mill)

January 29th, 1931
Lorne Hotel located next to the Waverly Hotel (now Colonial Inn) 72 Regent St.

January 8th, 1933
General Dairys on King St. (now the Rock'n Rodeo)

December 12th, 1934
One of many fires in the Sharkey Building at the corner of Queen St. and Barker House Alley

April 1935
Colwell & Jennings Furniture Store (later known as the Levines Store)

January 21st, 1936
Edgecome Building - Ken Staples Drugstore was located in this building at this time and was completely burnt out.

August 24th, 1937
A.J. Ryan Building *(the last fire the horses were used to haul the ladder wagon)

December 27th, 1937
Edgecome Building AGAIN

June 2,1938
100 block of Queen St. behind J.L. Simms & Son. (fire consumed two large ice storage sheds and a house along with several smaller sheds in the immediate area)

April 30th, 1939
Arctic Rink (now the site of the Fredericton Library)

May 26,1939
Barker House Stables, several homes and business also the auditorium of the Gaiety Theatre. (now the site of NBTel and NB Power)

Nov.20th, 1929
Exhibition Building

March 4th, 1942
Zellers Building and several other businesses and offices

March 20th, 1942
Corner of York & Queen (fire spread from Keys Fruit around the corner to Creaghans Building Edgecome Building AGAIN)

Feb. 14, 1943
Sharkey Building

May 1946
Grand Hotel Stables on Campbell St. (now location of Police Station)

Nov. 2nd, 1946
Clark Building 121 York St.

Dec. 29,1948
Two houses on King St. (now the site of Chippins Meat) Two elderly ladies died in this fire.

January 18th, 1948
Sharkey Building - AGAIN

July 7th, 1949
Grand Hotel

Feb. 3rd. 1956
Jamisons Supermarket (later Simpson Sears)

May 13th, 1957
Savage Apts. (next to King St. Fire Station)

Sept. 5th, 1959
Sharkey Building - ONCE MORE

March 2nd, 1963
Canadian Tire Store Queen St.

DEC 19, 1963
Simpson Sears Building - Queen St.

Dec. 8th, 1964
Large fire on North side of Regent St. between Queen St. and King St. (started as the result of snow removal)

August 20,1966
Daily Gleaner Building Queen St.

Oct. 8th 1967
Lindseys Restaurant King St.

January 25th, 1968
Zellers Queen St.

March 27th, 1969
Federal Hardware (corner of Queen and Regent St.)

May 28th, 1970
Wilsons Laundry (corner of Westmorland and Aberdeen St.)

Dec 24th, 1970
Chemistry Building U.N.B. - Large snow storm made it almost impossible to get to the fire and to get extra men back.

June 19th, 1971
Elm City Chrysler Bid. (King and Northumberland)

Feb. 3rd, 1973
Large Barn on Neil's Farm

March 18th, 1974
Golden Rock Restaurant Silverwood

March 19th, 1974
Queen St. fire - Levines, Herbys Music Store, Dragon City Restaurant and many more

Dec 15th, 1974
Old Woolworths Building on Queen St.

April 5th 1975
Ryan Building (corner of Carleton and Queen) Richards Jewelery

April 16th, 1975
Edenrock Motel - Now St Thomas Residence

May 28th, 1975
Navy Club Clark St - FF Gerry Trecartin died in this fire

June 8th, 1975
Barker House

Nov. 17th, 1975
Garden Creek School

Feb. 7th, 1977
80 Dunns Crossing (Apts) - 3 People died in this fire

Sept.13th, 1977
Marysville School

Nov. 24th, 1977
Peter Pan Grocery (corner of George and Westmorland St.)

July 8th, 1978
Curling Rink Brunswick St.

Plus Many Many More