|
|
|
From Our Files Here is some tidbits of information we've come across from deep within the recesses of our files. In many cases the information comes from notes, council minutes or bylaws passed by council. Prepared by the Gravenhurst Archives Committee, June 1983 In its early days, Gravenhurst was a village of wooden shops and homes, many with outbuildings for animals or storage. Sawmill sawdust was burned in tall structures which sent sparks skyward, often to lodge on shingle roofs. It is no wonder that the threat of fire was on the minds of the populace and their officials. In 1879 the village council - only the second elected since incorporation, investigated the purchase of a chemical fire engine employing soda and acid. It was purchased in 1880 for $1,250.00. A town meeting was called in 1882 to reorganize the fire brigade. In 1884 a Chief Constable was appointed. His responsibilities included the care of the fire engine. "Fire fighters are to be paid $1.00 per fire and the men whose team hauls the fire engine will receive $2.00. A bylaw of 1884 implies that fire spectators were less than spontaneous in their helpfulness because it regulated the conduct and enforced the assistance of village inhabitants present at fires. Even the appointment of a night watchman "supplied with a dark lantern" failed to still the fears of the people who "realizing that the village was imminently exposed to the danger of fire", set up a committee in 1885 to study the situation again. The outcome was a bylaw to raise $5,000.00 for a steam engine. The fire limits were fixed in1887, within which stricter controls were to be enforced on building materials. These proved of little help a few months later when fire started in the Mowry Foundry on Muskoka Road, where Becker's Store now stands. Rapidly the blaze consumed all the hotels, all but one shop, and the homes of 45 families, aided by the fact that the fire engine didn't work. After the disaster, council ordered an investigation. In January, 1888, Aldus Mowry resigned as engineer of the steam fire engine. Was it because the engine had failed when most needed? Was it because the fire had begun in his foundry? The town minutes are mute, the answer lost forever. Fire limits were extended north to Brown and Church Streets, south to James. Frame buildings were only allowed temporarily, with brick or stone required on new construction. Tin or concrete shingles were acceptable for the sides of sheds. The Town Hall, Fire Hall and tower were untouched by the 1887 fire and remained as non-conforming frame structures within the fire limits. They were insured for $2,000.00 in 1888. In his 1895 report, an inspector for the Canadian Fire Underwriters Association complained about these lingering risks. He said new frame buildings were still being allowed in the prohibited area. He also suggested a boiler heater for the fire engine to help it into faster readiness when called. On July 12, 1897, his concern was vindicated. The Town Hall complex at First and Brock Streets, was destroyed by fire. Next day a special meeting of council considered ways of restoring fire protection using the surviving fire engine as a nucleus. At about the same time Mr. Kohn, the tailor reported to council that Dr. Campbell was rebuilding on Muskoka Road between his shop and that of Mr. Meinardus. The contract had been let for a store with brick ends and wooden sides, the later contrary to bylaw. Mr. Kohn described it as a fire trap endangering both adjacent premises. A Mr. Boyd, wishing to a license for his Grand Central Hotel promised to brick over the building within two months of granting. Exisiting buildings were often too close together to permit conformity to the fire laws. Mr. Martin, furniture dealer and undertaker, found himself in such a position, with only 6 inches of clearance between his building and the neighbour. Mr. Lafraniere, who had lost his hotel by fire, built a new shed, covering the sides with tin shingles. The new Albion Hotel, this time of brick, was roofed with tin shingles which are still in place. As the 20th century began and continued, references to fire were fewer but in 1927, the council decided to remove Gravenhurst from the list of horse-dependant towns. The delay involved in harnessing fire horses to the engine was given as the reason the town spent $500.00 to adapt a truck body to carry the fire engine, and the era of motorized firefighting dawned in our town. Commencing with 1 October, 1948, the following rates to be
The Following is a revised rating for the Gravenhurst Fire Department, effective beginning 1st January, 1950.
Fire Chief's Annual Report 1959 Increased hazards, emergencies, structures, population and traffic, congested intersections and widespread suburban areas help us realize that we are getting farther from municipal fire protection. This necessitates pre-planning to arrive at a particular location and a step-up in the Department's training programme. As a result a complete new training roster has been in effect for the past two years. Our fire fighters have been trained to control modern hazards. Many hazards have been eliminated through the 1,140 inspections which have been made since July 1957 and these have resulted in several major building renovations as well. In October of this year one of our firemen completed a one week course in firemanics at the Ontario Fire College. Another is presently taking part in a three week first aid and rescue course at Arnprior. Sixteen departments participate in the Muskoka District Mutual Fire Aid Association to provide more efficient fire protection for large fires where additional equipment may be needed. The Gravenhurst Department was chosen to represent the district on television in April this year. The new fire emergency phones installed with the dial system in June has given the public more immediate response to their problems. Additional equipment has raised our inventory to $27,000, which is not out of line considering our broad coverage. There were 53 fires in 1957 as compared to 31 in 1958. To date there have been 19 fire calls and 2 for oxygen and first aid in 1959. Property loss in 1958 totaled $21,278.00 and to date in 1959 - $2,225.00. This protection costs you approximately $1.63 per person annually. It also saves you on fire insurance approximately $1.40 per $1,000 coverage on first class buildings and $5.50 per $1,000 coverage on frame buildings. The Fire Department is here for your protection and this is accepted a a necessary responsibility. We cannot adopt a complacent attitude. There is always room for improvement. We believe it is a worthwhile investment that you will want to maintain. R. Mathias, Chief Report on Trans-Canada Natural Gas Transmission Line Explosion At 11:30 p.m. on July 13, 1961 a call was received from a Mrs. Clark of the Muskoka Beach Road who reported a terrible noise, which she believed to be an aircraft explosion as the noise seemed to be coming closer as she excitedly gave her location. A message was left on the local police recording device to notify the provincial police in Bracebridge. While enroute to the fire station, Deputy Chief Roy Draper, overheard two men inform police constable Bob Elwell that, there had been a gas line explosion three miles north of town, opposite the drive in theatre. Upon arrival the only real hazard appeared to be the heavy traffic on highway No. 11 as the gas vapours were visible quite high into the air and approximately 100 ft. from the highway. The roaring noise was so loud at the point of traffic control our power megaphone was brought into use. While the traffic was kept moving one fire truck was dispatched to the south Doe Lake turn to re-route traffic, the other truck stayed at the north detour, while anxious eyes were cast to the heavy cloud that threatened rain hoping they would pass over and not hinder the fast dissipation of gas to the upper air. Two firefighters proceeded to old No.11 when Murray Middlebrook reported his home had caught fire and was burning around the electrical outlets when as he left. A check showed no homes in the area on fire. Although many trees, two thirds of the distance up the break, had been burned. All traffic in this section was under control within minutes and cleared beyond 200 yds. of the break. Police were soon at the scene as they received their call at 11:45 p.m. according to news reports. Our blockade was short lived when some irresponsible, inebriated, cigarette smoking clown, driving a brown jeep came along and defied the firefighters instructions to keep clear, running the blockade three times by driving around the fire trucks on the shoulder of the road, stating that he was assisting the police, this surprisingly appeared to be so, not wishing to have the north posted truck which was nearest the break, go into orbit, we retreated to the south cut-off and returned the pumper to town and to the men who were left at the hall on stand by. The valves were turned off by 1 a.m. allowing the rest of us to return shortly after. Chief Roy Mathias
To the Chairman and Members of the Fire & Building Committee Gentlemen: Included in the general information and operation report and the attendance report for 1962 is a complete breakdown of the Department's activities with the exception of one arson investigation and Court hearing during August. Item No. 1 for 1962 was the signing of coverage area contracts for a total of $2,800.00. The coverage area in Muskoka Township extends slightly over our maximum allowable travel distance of 5 miles under the Standard of Municipal Fire Protection. It must be mentioned here for the record, although our most difficult travel area during unfavourable weather conditions are off Number 11 highway and cover the more critical area, because of the type of occupancy and number of people involved, for example, the Ontario Hospital, Muskoka Sands Inn, Beaver Creek Correctional Camp. Also for the records, is the 1962 insurance premium reduction to Muskoka Township within our travel area. Although the contract to Muskoka Township was increased to $2,000.00 for stand-by and 10 calls maximum, the residents in this area received a reduction of insurance premiums from .95¢ to .58¢ on frame buildings, or a reduction of .37¢ per $100.00 still .05¢ above Bracebridge coverage rates. Commercial and industrial insurance premium rates remain the same within the Town of Gravenhurst and the Township of Muskoka coverage area, due to the absence of a municipally housed second pumper. Item No. 2 was the successful Christmas Tree burning out of the old year, to bring in the 75th Anniversary of the Town of Gravenhurst which was organized by Mayor Simmons and carried out by the Fire Department after many hours of gathering Christmas Trees. This short ceremony brought many favourable remarks from the public and prompted a 1963 Twelfth Night celebration. Item No. 3 was the opening of the Segwun Museum, once again organized by Mayor Simmons, and also once again assisted by the Fire Department, and this public affair also received many favourable accommodations including a letter to the Fire Department for its success in this event. Item No. 4 was the October Fire Prevention Week, which was run on a District wide basis with Gravenhurst students receiving 9 of the 12 awards for Fire Prevention Posters. The winners and their parents were entertained for an evening at FernVale Pool with refreshments and lunch for everyone. Item No. 5 was the completion of a special driver-pumper operators training course which was held during the summer evenings at the Ontario Fire College on the College Pumpers. Points of interest and planning 1963 consideration are as follows: Item No. 1 to increase the efficiency of our coverage and the importance of being in contact with our Fire Station while out on a call at all times, it may be possible to have the Township share the costs of radio communications with the Town of Gravenhurst, plus the 30% Provincial Federal Grant. Also some ground work on the cost of sharing a second pumper to reduce the commercial and industrial rates both in the Town and Township,on the same basis as we are sharing protection, which is maintained, serviced and manned by the Town of Gravenhurst at a much higher per capita cost to Gravenhurst residents than to Township residents. Item No. 2 could be to extend our coverage area 1-1/2 miles further south on No. 11 Highway only to the eleven businesses on either side of the highway as far south as Morrisons Garage, to reduce the costs further by $500.00. This short section very seldom has a fire emergency and may possibly acquire sufficient insurance premium reductions in their rates to more than off-set the cost of fire protection with a legal contract and travel distance of 3-1/2 miles from the fire hall. Item No. 3 to have the entire council support Fire Prevention Week through the many mediums available and assist their Fire Department in making this effort a huge success. Item No. 4 that Twelfth Night being a municipal ceremony, that we start planning in early fall with the support of the council to set aside reasonable funds and have municipal trucks available as in other municipalities, to gather trees and remove the debris, and to include all religious and other groups as has already been suggested by the Church and to inject every possible idea to make this occasion a memorable one. S.R. Mathias Fire Chief 1968 Fire Chief's Report to Nov. 20 All phone calls received through the fire department's emergency phone system are screened as to what action to be taken at the time by the emergency squad who have six of the eight emergency telephones. Response requiring no general alarm: oxygen assistance: town, 3; coverage area 6; other calls investigated, 24. General alarms: town, 18; Muskoka Township, 6; one being a false alarm; Ontario Hospital School, 2 false alarms; town 2 false alarms for a total of 28, classified as:
Other activities:
Major equipment repairs: 500 gallon pumper water tank replaced, overhaul of pump, replacement of bearings, and gear to pumper truck rear end, replacement of half windshield to equipment truck. Both of these units are over 15 years old and this alone would indicate the necessity of some major repair. Sincerely submitted Roy Mathias Fire Chief
|
|
Home / Organization / Public Education / Emergency Response / Fire Prevention Training / History / Guest Book / Links / Picture Gallery / Contact Us / Funstuff / Site Search News / Burn Regulations / Muskoka Forest Fire Danger Rating / Statistics / Site Map Send
Site designed and maintained by
John Black and David Eidsness |
