December 1950 – (Eastside of Main Street between Huron Street East and Algoma Street East)
December of 1950 saw a devastating fire on the east side of Main Street that caused $100,000 in damages. The fire was started by an oil burner in the Stewarts Taxi office. It raced through four buildings that included the Bluebird Restaurant, Thessalon Electric, J.A. Fullerton Furniture and Funeral services, and Stewarts Taxi.
There was also significant damage done to Delhenty’s Barber Shop and Photo Studio. Other buildings on the street that were potentially in danger included, the Empire Theatre, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, the office and printing plant of the Thessalon Advocate, People’s Meat Market and E.J. Mills General Store.
The fire was fanned by high winds and at one point the heat was so intense that it caused four plate glass windows in stores on the west side of the street to crack.
January 25, 1963 – (Ansara Block) Eastside of Main Street between Huron Street East and Lorne Street East.
The fire burned between the Red Fox Inn (formerly the Queens/O’Connor Hotel) and Jimmy’s Restaurant which was located at the opposite end of the block. Ten apartments burned leaving 31 people homeless. Jimmy Stopes Snack Bar lost some restaurant equipment, while the worst damages were sustained by the Poolroom and Smoke Shop owned by the McDonalds.
May, 1963 – Main Street and Huron Street East
Only a few short months after the fire that destroyed most of a block between Huron Street East and Algoma Street East along the Main Street, another fire on the opposite corner of Huron Street East took the newspaper office, police station, lockup and the Town Hall offices.
In addition the Masonic Dyment Lodge was lost in the same fire and the former theatre building that was being used as a dance hall next door was also irreparably damaged. The municipal offices were moved to either the Community Centre or the library building temporarily.
December 1977 – Crest Hardware Store – north west corner of Lorne Street West and Main Street.
Main Street saw anotgher large fire when it began in Crest’s Hardware Store. The building was destroyed along with, Mae’s Hairshop that was in the back.
December 1977 – Maclean Crest Hardware Store – Westside corner of Main Street and Lorne Street West.
An empty building that had been North Shore Produce and The Flower Pot were also lost as well as eight apartments. The owners of the Flower Pot were among the tenants who were burned out. An explosion was said to have been heard at the start of the fire.
April 4, 1985 – The Sinton Hotel (Westside corner of Main Street and Huron Street West)
A long time landmark was razed by fire in April of 1985 when fire destroyed the Sinton Hotel that had been standing on the corner of Main Street and Huron Street West since 1907. The fire was first noticed by Cpl. Jack Hill of the Thessalon O.P.P. while doing standard property checks at 1:25 a.m.
After calling in the alarm and requesting assistance the building was quickly evacuated. By 2:00 a.m. the O’Connor Apartments building next door was evacuated as well.
Businesses in the O’Connor included the Thessalon Restaurant and Thessalon Taxi at the time. The Thessalon Bake Shop located next to that, was evacuated as well. It took four trucks and six departments to get the blaze under control.
The owner mourned the loss of many valued antiques as well as the building. He commented that if it were to be rebuilt it would not take the same form as before. Replacement was estimated at $750,000 to $1 million.
Sault Star Clipping detailing some of the history of the Sinton Hotel.
THE SAULT STAR — MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 1991
By MARGI TURNER Special to the Star THESSALON
Clean-up operations continue at the site of a major fire in downtown Thessalon. Damage is estimated at $1.5 million, according to Fire Chief Rick Thorold. Three buildings were destroyed in the blaze, with a fourth, owned by Chief Thorold, receiving heavy smoke and water damage.
A faulty furnace chimney at the rear of Davey and Sons Marine, 170 Main St., has been determined as the cause of the blaze. A police report said the base fitting of the oil furnace chimney had deteriorated and insulation had fallen out. It said that this caused a hot spot at the roof area, resulting in a fire at the roof level.
Owner Doug Davey said he was notified around 8 p.m. Friday by a neighbor that there was smoke coming out of the back of the store. Mr. Davey said he took a fireman into the apartments over the store. "I know my building. It could only burn from the top down. But once the fire got over the back brick firewall and into the false ceiling, there was no way to get water to it," he said.
Also destroyed in the blaze was the Thessalon Pharmacy and the Skyway Grill, a vacant restaurant. Mr. Davey, who had no insurance, said he was positive that the building wouldn't burn down as it contained four brick firewalls.
Mr. Davey and several tenants above the store, including his son, lost everything in the fire.
