Québec City experienced major fires in the 19th century. The most memorable were undoubtedly those of 1845. On May 28 and June 28, flames destroyed the Saint-Roch, Saint-Jean and Saint-Louis districts. Other major fires also swept through in 1866, 1876 and 1881, ravaging whole sections of the city. Each time, hundreds, if not thousands, of people had to rebuild their homes and reorganize their daily lives. Fire departments began to develop in the late 19th century, reducing the frequency and scale of these fires. This album bears witness to the residents’ courage in these difficult times.
The fires of June 1845 in the Saint-Jean and Saint-Louis districts
Joseph Légaré
On June 28, 1845, a fire destroyed the Saint-Jean district and part of the Saint-Louis district, two working-class neighbourhoods in Québec City. The fire broke out in a home and quickly spread. In the hope of containing the flames, the Royal Artillery blew up three houses, but to no avail. In the end, 2 churches, 3 schools and over 1,300 homes were destroyed.
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