Alma, NB (NB archives P182-41) before the 1926 fire that destroyed half the village.
Submitted by Bonnielee Armstrong, Community Contributor
One hundred years ago on June 4th, 1926 tragedy struck the village of Alma. Alma was my home from 1958-1989 when I left for employment and again having returned since retiring. As a child growing up I recall my Grandparents often telling me about an all consuming fire they witnessed in Alma. They were a young couple then, in their mid twenties, with a young family. I can only imagine the terror they felt as they watched their beloved village burn to the ground.
Accounts have said it was a particularly dry Spring and as per usual the saw mill on the river adjacent to Alma was bustling, processing the Spring log drive now held in the head pond above the mill. My Grandmother recounted that there was a strong wind that day, blowing from the mill towards Alma. While the men worked sawing the logs an ember from the mill was carried aloft and landed on the roof of a house in the village. Before long the roof on the house was ablaze and shortly thereafter the whole house was engulfed. This was just the beginning of what was to follow. Fanned by the strong winds and dry conditions it took no time for the flames to spread to neighbouring homes. One by one, home after home ignited. With scant firefighting capabilities in those days there was little the residents of Alma could do but watch. Bearing witness to the destruction of their community. Home after home, business after business, and the newly formed United Church (former Methodist Church) were all in its path.
One hundred years ago on June 4th, 1926 tragedy struck the village of Alma. Alma was my home from 1958-1989 when I left for employment and again having returned since retiring. As a child growing up I recall my Grandparents often telling me about an all consuming fire they witnessed in Alma. They were a young couple then, in their mid twenties, with a young family. I can only imagine the terror they felt as they watched their beloved village burn to the ground.
Accounts have said it was a particularly dry Spring and as per usual the saw mill on the river adjacent to Alma was bustling, processing the Spring log drive now held in the head pond above the mill. My Grandmother recounted that there was a strong wind that day, blowing from the mill towards Alma. While the men worked sawing the logs an ember from the mill was carried aloft and landed on the roof of a house in the village. Before long the roof on the house was ablaze and shortly thereafter the whole house was engulfed. This was just the beginning of what was to follow. Fanned by the strong winds and dry conditions it took no time for the flames to spread to neighbouring homes. One by one, home after home ignited. With scant firefighting capabilities in those days there was little the residents of Alma could do but watch. Bearing witness to the destruction of their community. Home after home, business after business, and the newly formed United Church (former Methodist Church) were all in its path.
I’ve never heard what stopped the fire, perhaps the residents didn’t even know why. Only that it did. Maybe the wind died down or the fire exhausted itself. In the end, as recorded in the United Church Alma-Albert Pastoral Charge records, the fire destroyed 27 buildings, ten homes and the United Church. People of that era did not carry home or business insurance. They lost everything, their homes and their livelihoods. I’ve not found information if any lives were lost but since the Church records made no mention of it I hope it’s safe to assume none were lost.
With no money, the Village in ruin, what were its residents to do? There appears to be no surviving records to verify if the Red Cross responded with formal disaster relief. Many records from 1926 Alma seem lost to history. What does remain clear is that Alma did indeed rise from the ashes. It rebuilt its homes and businesses. It continued to thrive, prosper and adapt to the changing world around it. Growing from ship building and lumber into a fishing and tourist based economy. Developing into the gateway to Fundy National Park and the quaint little village people love to come to visit. It’s a testament to the strength and resiliency of Alma’s people.
From a terrible tragedy that could have crushed the community they found the strength to come back. I’m glad they did because it was a wonderful place to grow up and I’m so proud to call it home.
With no money, the Village in ruin, what were its residents to do? There appears to be no surviving records to verify if the Red Cross responded with formal disaster relief. Many records from 1926 Alma seem lost to history. What does remain clear is that Alma did indeed rise from the ashes. It rebuilt its homes and businesses. It continued to thrive, prosper and adapt to the changing world around it. Growing from ship building and lumber into a fishing and tourist based economy. Developing into the gateway to Fundy National Park and the quaint little village people love to come to visit. It’s a testament to the strength and resiliency of Alma’s people.
From a terrible tragedy that could have crushed the community they found the strength to come back. I’m glad they did because it was a wonderful place to grow up and I’m so proud to call it home.
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