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.
Auteur inconnu
In the 19th century, no adequate public services yet existed to fight fires in urban areas. It was not uncommon for flames to sweep through an entire neighbourhood, only stopped in their destructive tracks by a natural obstacle, such as a river. This engraving depicts just such a situation: the great fire that burned Québec City’s Saint-Roch district to the ground was contained only by the Saint-Charles River.
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