Gravenhurst Volunteer Fire Department

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.