DID YOU KNOW? A raging fire in 1891 wiped out much of downtown Alliston

Almost every small town has a great fire story, and Alliston is no different.

The great fire that happened May 8, 1891, decimated many of the stores and buildings that once lined Victoria Street.

A historical newspaper clipping that described the aftermath said the blaze consumed upwards of 30 acres of land and destroyed “two thirds of the prettiest and most lively main streets of any town in the province.”

According to historical records, the fire is believed to have started in the horse stables outside the Queen’s Hotel, which was located in the heart of downtown.

Historian Ralph Braden, who wrote about the fire in one of his books, said the blaze was able to spread quickly due to strong warm breezes and the cedar plank sidewalks that lined the streets.

He called it “an inferno waiting to happen.”

He said volunteers worked desperately to douse the flames with buckets of water, and the town had to call for help from neighbouring communities.

The Collingwood Fire Department answered the call and it brought its pumper to town on the train, but it didn’t arrive until late in the afternoon.

It took years for the town to rebuild, but a new downtown eventually rose from the ashes.