Andrew Robertson

Whitby

Whitby Historic Plaques (Transcription)

“GROSS & GRANGER FIRE, 1901

“On June 9, 1901, fire broke out in the three-storey Gross & Granger hardware building on this site. When the flames reached boxes of live ammunition, bullets shot into the street and no one could go near the side for half an hour. Several people were wounded, but not seriously. The ruined building collapsed in 1902, destroying two wooden stores.”

East side of Brock St

“THE GREAT FIRE OF 1877

“On October 16, 1877, fire destroyed almost all the business buildings on the east side of Brock Street from Dundas to Colborne, with the exception of the Dominion Bank. The fire started when a deliveryman dropped a tray of lighted coal oil lamps. Damage amounted to more than $10000. The present buildings in this block [east side Brock St] were constructed between 1877 and 1883.”

All Saints Church

“MERRYWEATHER STEAM FIRE ENGINE, 1872

“On Nov. 2, 1872, the Merryweather steam fire engine shot a stream of water over the top of All Saints Church steeple through 800 feet of hose from a well at Brock and Dundas Streets. The test convinced the Town to purchase the engine. In 1969, modern fire-fighting equipment could not equal this feat when the church was struck by lighting.”

“CARNEGIE PUBLIC LIBRARY, 1913

“James Rutledge, chairman of the Board of Education, laid the corner stone for this building on June 9, 1913. The library was funded by the Carnegie Corporation of the United States, and was officially opened by the County Clerk John E. Farewell on May 1, 1914. It served as Whitby’s Public Library until 1973.”

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