One of the most devastating fires in the history of Canada had taken place in the year of 1922 in Northeastern Ontario. It all happened in the fall season at a time when Northeastern Ontario had encountered a very long dry spell during the entire month of August and September. There had been very little or no rain and the bush was already tinder dry. During the early part of October, farmers and new settlers around the community of Charlton had been burning slash, brush which had been cleared to make way for new land for farming. On October 4th, 1922 had started out to be a clear calm day. As the day progressed, small gusts of wind from the North-west began to blow on the many small bush fires that were scattered around the countryside. As the day continued to progressed, the wind had turned into gale force winds from the now out of control fire which generated its own wind by its intense heat which blew live, hot ambers ahead of its path. These scattered bush fires had by then converged into a single front stretching out for many miles. By 4 o clock, there was a wall of fire heading towards the town of Haileybury, which was nestled along a hillside overlooking the shores of Lake Temiskaming. Haileybury, a town with a population of five thousand, was the county seat for the area, located midway between the rocky silver mining town of Cobalt which lay a few miles to the south, and the farming community of New Liskeard to the north. To the north of New Liskeard are the farming communities of Earlton, Engleheart and Charlton. The people of these communities were by then, heading south towards Cobalt and Haileybury as the massive wall of fire followed in their footsteps. By now, the townspeople of Haileybury could see the great wall of fire coming towards them. The mayor urged the people to evacuate as quickly as possible as the heat and thick smoke imbedded with hot ambers filled the sky over the town of Haileybury. Some people had fled towards Cobalt while others went to New Liskeard. Most of the people headed towards the safety of Lake Temiskaming.

From North Cobalt to Englehart, from the Montreal River to the Quebec Border and beyond, blacken countryside and charred ruins were everywhere. The fire had touched part of the farming communities around Charlton, Englehart, North Cobalt and New Liskeard. It had swept through all of Earlton and Haileybury, totally devastating these two towns. Cobalt was speared from any devastation because the wind had changed direction and had moved away from the town. Only a narrow swat of land between Haileybury and New Liskeard, called Millionaire Row on Lakeshore Rd. had escaped the ravages of the fire.

The Great fire had claimed around 34 lives and left many people homeless. During the night of October 4th. 1922, a relief train was organized at Toronto. Trains were loaded with supplies of foodstuffs, clothing and other necessaties. Staff Inspector Paxton of the Provincial Police was in charge of the relief operations. By October 7th-14th, 1922 eighty-seven aged Toronto streetcars with old type of T.S.R. coal burning stoves, were shipped by rail to provide temporary shelter for those people who had lost their homes in that fire which had left the landscape bleak and desolate. Miles upon miles of blacken stumps was to be seen where the wind could blow for miles across those open fields mingled with snow and ashes. Once these streetcars were placed around the various communities, families moved into them and made a home for themselves. The people of Haileybury had put up a commemorative sculpture at the waterfront in remembrance of the Great Fire of 1922. The statue represents people going into Lake Temiskaming to escape the wall of fire that was sweeping through Haileybury which had taken many precious lives, and devastated the hopes and dreams of so many people.

Note; I want to thank Wayne Mennett for the use of two audio cassette tapes on the Great Fire of 1922 which contained valuable information.

The Haileybury Heritage Museum has a fully restored streetcar on display which was at one time actualy used as a home. You can view paintings and old photo's and learn more about the Great Fire of 1922. The Haileybury Heritage Museum has many books for sale dealing with the history of Haileybury and the area of Lake Temiskaming. A good book titled, "The Great Fire of 1922 is at the Museum Book Shop which is for sale. This book will give you much information on the fire and it relates accounts from individuals who had experienced first-hand the actual events of this terrible fire.