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 fire of June 1845, seen from the far bank of the Saint-Charles River
George T. Stanford, after a drawing by John Murray
On May 28, 1845, a fire ravaged the Saint-Roch district in Québec City. On June 28, a second fire destroyed two more of the city’s central neighbourhoods. A Montréal publishing house subsequently sold copies of this poster as part of educational activities on fire prevention. A note below the image states that one third of the profits would go to the fire victims.
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