Joyner's Department Store / New Year's Day Fire 2004

Lilypon, on March 28, 2007, said:

New Year's Day Fire 2004

Former Joyner's Building (1892-96) 28-32 Main St North was designated a heritage building in 1999, before it was destroyed by the spectacular New Year's day fire in 2004. Constructed between 1892 and 1896, after the major fire of 1891, it was the oldest commercial building in Moose Jaw. What appeared to be three individual buildings were connected by a corridor throughout. The Joyner family purchased the building in 1912 and they operated a popular department store there until 1994. The unique Lampson electric cash cable system, which was installed in 1915, was apparently one of only six ever installed in Canada (at the time of the fire it was the only remaining operational one). Walt Disney once offered to purchase Joyner's cash cable system.

Lilypon, on June 25, 2007, said:

Erwin the day before the fire started we were walking around without coats (it was warm here). However the night of the fire the temperatures started dropping and by the time the fire was finally put out it was -30 degrees Celcius outside (-22 degrees Fahrenheit). Saskatchewan often receives blasts of frigid arctic weather that plunges us into a deep freeze (that is why trees don't grow well on Canada's open plains). The winters of 2002 to 2005 the temperature here dropped down to -52 degrees Celcius/ -61.6 degree Fahrenheit (thankfully for not very long).

Lilypon, on June 25, 2007, said:

Come the cold of winter I truly wonder about our sanity living here. ;) But it is one of the sunniest areas in Canada (though we are seeing more clouds this year) and I do love the sun.

There's always a price to be paid. ;)

Brant McDowell, on July 15, 2007, said:

Did they rebuild it?

Lilypon, on July 16, 2007, said:

Hi Brant :) The centre part of the building (still somewhat intact in the above pic) was rebuilt. The two side buildings weren't nor has the Chow building. They still have a pile of salvaged brick at the site and I'm hoping that someone builds there soon.

Chip Stephan, on July 16, 2007, said:

Quite a tale. Fighting that fire must not have been easy in that changing weather and the ground covered in rapidly freezing water. Keeping water running through the hoses would have been vital to keep them from bursting. The end result, the devastation, is hidden beneath this ice-cream cake-like coating of ice. A beautiful set of photos, Lilypon.

Lilypon, on July 16, 2007, said:

Chip I froze just standing watching it (the wind had picked up overnight). You have done a wonderful job of verbalizing our immediate reaction to it (and then the heartbreak moved in). I know some of the fireman suffered frostbite (I don't want to begin to imagine how cold they felt....except it would probably be similar to putting your hand in a glass with water and ice cubes).

When the "ice-cream cake-like coating of ice" melted, the following spring, the eyes of the citizens of Moose Jaw showed the sadness again.

Vicki Binder, on October 12, 2007, said:

Wow, thats just not something you see everyday. What an unfortunate loss for the community, I am sure it was a tough blow.

I sympathize about the cold too, these last 2 years have been relativly warm, but we also reached -52c in the winter of 2004/2005. Those few days, we just stayed home, and kept the fire burning.

Vicki in Hines Creek AB ( look waaaay north :) )

Lilypon, on October 12, 2007, said:

Hi Vicki :) it sure was.....the city is recovering albeit slowly.

Your winter was just like our past two. It felt really wrong here so I'm guessing waaaaaaaaay ;) up there people's tongues must have really been wagging re global warming?

I haven't made up my mind yet (re the warmth) whether it's man made or a natural warming cycle but it sure is unnerving, for our normally frigid prairies, to be having winter conditions that a Vancouverite would feel at home with. ;)

I'd keep the fire burning here too but, as Ryan would point out, we are a wee bit lacking in that department. ;)

Pam

®mene, on November 17, 2007, said:

WOW .... pretty cool! because i have a cold right now i can not watch that pictues any longer :) mene

Lilypon, on November 17, 2007, said:

Sorry to hear that ((Mene)) and I don't blame you (the above does manage to chill one to the bone. ;)

oronbb, on November 17, 2007, said:

Great picture & Great, moving, story too. Thanks for sharing.

Lilypon, on November 17, 2007, said:

You're welcome and thank you for visiting Oronbb. :)