Cragg Fire January 12th 1912 12:45am
Box 4
It was contained within Barrington, George and Granville Streets. Thre total loss was evaluated at $235 632.00 including $78 190.00 uninsured.
The following is copied from Acadian Recorder:
Twelve buildings were destroyed by the fire, and all of these contained much valuable stock or machinery. The fire started in the Munnis building and worked both north, south and east. The Cabot building on Barrington Street prevented the fire going further south; at the rear of this building the Recorder’s brick structure saved the conflagration from sweeping the whole block. Considerable damage was done by water to the Cabot stock, and much damage was done in the basement of the Recorder office, the cellar having some five feet of water in it.
The buildings destroyed and the occupants of the same are given below:
On Barrington Street:
Nos. 133-135 - William Crowe, fancy goods.
137 - MacCormack Clothing Co.
139 - Dr. R. B. Mulloney, dentist.
139 - Dr. F. W. Dobson, dentist.
139 - J.M.Margeson, photographer.
139 - Miss H. Duran-t. ladies’ tailoring.
139 - Edward Brothers, janitor.
139 - Edward LeCann, engineer S. S. Contre Amiral Coubet.
141 – 143 - L. Clyde Davidson & Co., stationers.
145 - 147—W. S. Munnis, gents’ furnishings and clothing.
149 - H. Shaefer & Son, jewellers.
151-153 - Cragg Bros. Co., Ltd., hardware.
On George Street:
No. 16 - Henry H. Marshall, fancy goods.
16 ½ - Harry Wright.
18 - Carroll Bros.. barbers.
On Granville Street:
No. 96 - Wonnacot, locksmith and bicycle repairer.
96 ½ - E. G. Stayner, insurance agent.
98 - John H. Barnstead, marriage license office.
100-102 - Continental Hotel, Thomas Hardy.
104 - C. W. Gunning, commission merchant.
106 - Thompson & Thompson, insurance agents.
106 – James Maggs.
108 - Herald and Mail Building.
Some of the Losses:
William Crowe, stock and building: $15,000
The Davidson Building and stock of L. C. Davidson: $35,000
The Munnis stock, about $10,000
The McCormack stock, about $6,000
Dr. Mulloney's loss, about $1,400
Dr. Dobsons loss. about $1,400
J. M. Margeson's loss: $500
Mr. Brothers’ loss: $400
Mr. Honey's loss: $400
Schaefer and Son's building and stock: $8,000
Cragg Brothers' building and stock, about $45,000
Carroll Bros, about $1,500
Marshall's stock, about $5,000
Harry Wright, about $500
Dennis building (occupied by Marshall and Wright): $1,000
Herald building and plant, about 175,000
The Borden—Ritchie library, about $8,000
Other office losses, furniture, etc., in the Herald Building, total about $10,000 (The list of the tenants is given elsewehere).
Thompson & Thompson’s, about $800
The Dennis Building (occupied by Thompson & Thompson and others): $6,000
Messrs. Gunning, about $600
J. J. Hunt $400
Continental Hotel, T. Hardy, building and stock, about $8,000
The Dennis Building, (occupied by Wonnacott, Marshall and others): $5,000
The occupants losses, about $1,000
W. H. Cabot, about $2,000
Blackadar Bros., about $2,000
The tenants in the Herald Building were:
Canada Life Assurance Company.
United States Consulate.
Mark Fisher, Sons & Co.
The St. Croix Lumber Co.
James M. Davison, Barrister.
Thomas F. Tobin. Barrister.
Confederation Life Association.
Presbyterian Offices
Sun Life Assurance Co.
Ritchie and Robertson, Barristers.
Henry C. Borden. Travellers‘ Insurance Co.
John E. Albro, Manufacturers‘ Agent.
Miss M. Cunningham. Stenographer.
George H. Taylor & C0,, Commission Merchants.
D. M. Owen. Solicitor.
Captain S. M. Beardsley, Insurance Agent.
Accidents at the Fire.
Chief Broderick had one of his fingers nearly cut off by falling glass.
Bert Brunt, of No. 3 Division, had an artery in his arm cut by falling glass and he was removed to the Police Station, where Dr. Trenaman dressed his wounds.
John Brooks, of No. 4 Division, was overcome by smoke as was J. Hoganson and others. All recovered shortly and resumed their work in fighting the flames.
A large number of the firemen were slightly injured, but fortunately there were no very serious accidents.
There were many narrow escapes by residents of the burnt district from being burned to death. John Honey, of the Dockyard staff, lived in the Davidson building, and he and his family had a close call. He escaped with his child, who had nothing but its night clothing on. A little daughter was also carried out by a fireman. The police and newspaper men assisted in the rescue work at the early stages of the fire
Source: Halifax Municipal Archives, 1911-1912 Annual Report, pages 140-143 and the Acadian Recorder newspaper.