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 Illustrated London News
This engraving shows the Saint-Roch and Saint-Sauveur districts after the 1866 fire, as seen from the Marine and Emigrant Hospital, an imposing building that escaped the flames. Between 2,500 and 3,000 buildings were destroyed, leaving 20,000 people homeless. This image was taken from The Illustrated London News.
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