AT AROUND 09:30 P.M. ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1957, A FIRE STARTED AT THE BEACHVIEW HOTEL ON MAIN STREET IN THE TOWN OF STEPHENVILLE CROSSING, NL.

THE FIRE QUICKLY SPREAD ACROSS THE MAIN STREET AND BY MORNING THE FIRE HAD CONSUMED EIGHT BUILDINGS.

Western Star, Monday, August 26, 1957_6
Western Star, Monday, August 26, 1957_7
Western Star, Monday, August 26, 1957_9

Source; Western Star, Corner Brook, NL, Monday, August 26, 1957, p.1,3.

 

On August 26, 1957, I was 12 years old. I remember very well the Beachview Hotel, the McFatridge general store and Ulric Chaffy’s stores as well as the Dew Drop Inn.

The Beachview Hotel

The above photo was taken (looking east) on Main Street not long before the fire of 1957. The Beachview Hotel is the green building on the right. The 2 story green house on the left side of the street was also burned in the fire. The green car parked in front of the Beachview Hotel looks very much like a 1955 or 1956 Ford, suggesting that this picture was taken not long before the fire.