The Paris Independent
13
October 14, 2023
L O C A L H I S TO RY
Evolution of Paris Fire Fighting continued
On the evening of September 12, 1900, a fierce southwesterly wind swept through the bustling streets of 20th century Paris. The town was alive with the energy of the night, but little did its inhabitants know that a devastating event was about to unfold. As the clock struck midnight, the wind intensified, morphing into a howling gale that rattled windows and sent chills down spines. Mrs. Patten, residing on William Street on the other side of the Grand River, awoken and happened to glance out her window. To her horror, she spotted a crimson glow dancing upon the water's surface. Her gaze shifted upward, and she gasped as flames erupted from the roof of Meldrum's Flour Mill, where Rexall Pharmacy now stands. With urgency coursing through her veins, Mrs. Patten hastily donned her clothes and braved the tempestuous winds. Crossing the old wooden floored William Street bridge, she shouted the dreaded word, "Fire!" Her cry pierced the night, prompting someone over at the Wincey Mill to blow the whistle in response, sounding the first alarm. Night Watchman
This photograph shows the West Side of Grand River St. North downtown Paris after the Great Fire of 1900. Paris Museum and Historical Society
Stewart rang Alarm No. 7 located one store to the next. In the midst at the corner of the Arlington of the crimson glow, firefighters Hotel. battled valiantly with hoses that were often scorched, while frantic Within moments, the fire engines businessmen hurried in and out of arrived, but it was too late. The their doomed establishments, mill was engulfed in an inferno, its salvaging what they could. A few fiery tongues reaching out greedily resourceful merchants on the east for neighboring structures. Bailey side of the street flung their Steuart-Jones, perched upon a valuable merchandise out of back rooftop across the street, attempted windows onto the banks of the to smother sparks, only to witness Grand River. On the William Street an endless stream of flames leaping Bridge, a bucket brigade under the from the west side of the street, command of D. Brockbank fought consuming buildings on the east tenaciously to protect the wooden side, and even sparks scattered flooring. Meanwhile, over on the through the turbulent air, crossing Flats, Penmans' fire brigade toiled the Grand River and reaching throughout the night, preventing rooftops as far as Walnut Street. sparks from setting ablaze the The scene was nothing short of skating rink, agricultural buildings, surreal. The wind, seemingly and nearby houses. blowing from all directions at once, propelled the flames from Continued on page 14
