On this day 113 years ago people left Timaru picture shows and other places they frequented on a Wednesday night in 1913 after the news reached that there was a fire raging in the Pleasant Point township in one of its most well-known buildings.

A Timaru Herald article from January 30 1913 described the previous nights fire at Nelligan’s block and the estimated 1500 people from Pleasant Point, Timaru and neighbouring areas congregated to watch the blaze and the bucket brigade made up of locals that saved the fire from spreading further.

The fire of unknown origins which is understood to have started in the back of Mr J.S. Chisholm’s Grocery Store at around 7.30pm spread rapidly into the adjoining premises and thankfully there was community initiative to work together to stop the fire from taking out all the buildings on that side of town. The bucket brigade carried water from a creek 20 yards (18.3m) to stop the fire from spreading.

Photograph - Group from Timaru Volunteer Fire Brigade [unnamed except for Arthur Edward Holmes] - on horse-drawn appliance outside burnt shell of building named 'F Nelligan, Railway and Commercial Hotel' - Pleasant Point, South Canterbury - 132 x 87 mm Archives NZ.

The people of Timaru congregated to the fire of the four buildings known as Nelligan’s block, included a two story hotel on the corner of the main street, one of the oldest and best-known buildings in the township. Mr Chisholms grocery shop, Mr Murphy’s Butchery and Mr Harker’s Bakery.

The Timaru Herald said the flames were coming out the top of the burning corner like tongues reaching the sky “making an awe-inspiring spectacle in the darkness”.

It was initially deemed the bucket brigade would not be enough when the fire first broke out, so despite the community's heroics the Timaru Volunteer Fire Brigade was called in for back up. By the time the Brigade arrived the buildings were gutted and the bucket brigade has worked so well they had stopped the spread of the fire and the buildings next to the fire had a lot of stock in nearby shops including the nearby cycle shop. The Timaru fire Brigade put the finishing touches on the fire and put it out.

The building was rebuilt and opened again in August 1913.

References

Timaru Herald Article January 30 1913 - Papers Past | Newspapers | Timaru Herald | 30 January 1913 | FIRE AT THE POINT.

Timaru Herald Article August 5 1913 Papers Past | Newspapers | Timaru Herald | 5 August 1913 | A NEW HOSTELRY.

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Timaru District Council Historic Heritage Item record Form Letter