Volume XI-Issue 604
www.vermilionvoice.com
February 15, 2016
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Two historic buildings lost in one night
Shannon O’Connor Reporter
4931-50 Ave, Vermilion AB
In This Week’s Issue Purple Pinkie Page 2
Folk club Page 7
Rich history Page 8
Fallen heros Page 9
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Two historic area buildings were consumed by fire in the early hours of Saturday, February 13. The first was the well known landmark of St. Joseph’s Convent in Clandonald, and the second was the old Woodvale School, southeast of Vermilion. Clandonald Fire Chief, Shamus Martin said they got the call about the old Convent fire at approximately 2 a.m. on Feb. 13 and the fire crew arrived on the scene about 12 minutes later at which point the historic building’s three floors were already engulfed in flames. “There was no hope of saving the building,” said Martin. Martin added that the age of the building, the wood construction, possible sawdust insulation, and its two stairwells, which fed air to the fire, sealed the building’s fate once the fire got going. It burned to the ground in about 45 minutes. By the time the fire department got the call Martin guesstimated it had already been burning for about 20 to 30 minutes. But Martin said things could have been worse. “The heat was so extreme parts of cars melted up to one hundred feet away. It was within minutes of having the trailer go up.” The trailer is where the owners of the old Convent live, which is situated in front and off to the side of where the historic building once towered in the skyline. It was unoccupied at the time of the fire and there were no human injuries or casualties. Martin said the cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but it is not being deemed as suspicious. “It may have been wiring, or a heat lamp.” The fire will be investigated said Martin. Martin, who lives not far from Clandonald, said you could see the convent on the horizon for miles. “It’s a shame.” He added that, as sad as it is, it at least occurred at the right time of year in terms of being able to stop the fire from spreading to surrounding buildings. “If that had happened in the summer, with the dry weather conditions, it might have taken out the whole town.” Outpourings of dismay, sadness, and shock about the Convent fire were expressed on the Friends of Clandonald Sustainability Foundation Facebook page. One year ago Sherry Jost commented on a picture of the Convent on Flickr. She stated she was born and raised in Clandonald and remembered
Historic landmark St. Joseph’s convent engulfed in flames on Feb. 13. Photo courtesy of Brent Farrell.
how beautiful the building was. “What is a real shame is that grants were never obtained to keep this a heritage building,” she wrote. Both the Dewberry and Vermilion Fire Departments were at the scene. The Vermilion Fire Department got called
The historic landmark St. Joseph’s Covent in 2013.Photo courtesy of Clay Dye. www.flicr.com/photos/67630209@ N05/8529473400 non altered photo
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away to the fire at the old Woodvale School, which closed in 1976, and had also been converted to a residence over the years. The Vermilion Fire Department was unavailable for comment as of press time. See more on page 4