This tag was created by Tyler Hodgkinson.
Chimney Fire of 1959
In April of 1959 a defective south end chimney with excessive buildup created the necessary factors for a fire to break out [3]. Unnoticed the fire spread to the upper floor of the Mississippi and blew out through the windows of the fourth floor some time between 4:00 and 4:30 am when Constable Ray McIsaac noticed the blaze during a routine patrol and rushed in to notify the night man William Greene, McIsaac reported seeing nothing during his previous patrol at 4:00 am. [4].
The fire crew arrived and all seven occupants of the building evacuated safely [5] and took refuge in the neighboring salvation army [6]. The fight lasted until 9:00 am but was not an entire victory, not only did the fire take the life of volunteer firefighter James Garland but it also destroyed the fourth floor defined by the mansard roof and caused extensive damage and warranted the removal of the ornate veranda that had once dominated the facade[7].
After the fire the McIlquham Family with the grief of a lost life on the property wanted out and sold the hotel to Lorraine and David Lemay for $30,000 [8] roughly $270,000 adjusted for inflation.
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