History: Murchison’s first major fire

In the early hours of the 5 December 1914, Murchison’s first major fire broke out in the back of Moxey’s Hotel, also known as Downie’s Hotel.

Mr L. Frank, of Buxton and Co., Ltd, one of many staying in the hotel at the time, awakened at around 2.30am to the sound of falling glass.

On pulling up the window blind he saw the building was on fire.

After raising the alarm, he and the others staying in the hotel were able to make a hasty retreat downstairs and out onto the road.

The fire spread so quickly and was so intense that it was impossible to re-enter the building to get any of the personal possessions that had been left behind.

Two shops in the rear of the hotel, occupied by a tailor and a barber, were destroyed; but Keating’s stables were saved, though they had a narrow escape.

From the hotel the fire spread to Hodgson’s store, which was gutted, and then to the hall, which met a similar fate.   Those living on Mr Hodgson’s premises had more time at their disposal, and a large quantity of produce was removed. Some of this was not removed to a sufficient enough distance and much of it was destroyed by the fire and water.

A huge effort by townspeople saved the surrounding buildings from destruction, however, they still showed the effects of the ferocity of the fire.

McNee’s store, Fowler’s blacksmith’s shop, and Clough’s wheelwright, were all scorched black, while Hodgson’s recently-new butcher’s shop and powerhouse on the same side of the street were only saved by the vigorous efforts of a bucket brigade.

Keating’s stables, at the rear of the hotel, also escaped with a scorching.

Those fighting the fire were hampered by a scarcity of water, but the fire was so fierce that it was said that little could have been done without a good fire brigade and an ample pressure of water.

Fortunately, the wind was light, and during the progress of the fire it veered round to the south.

By morning all that remained was a mass of smoking ruins and the chimneys.

However, being the hardy stock that they were, alternative arrangements were made to carry on their businesses.  William Moxey set up a temporary bar in Keating’s motor garage.

Herbert Hodgson set up his store in a hall for a time before organising temporary premises near the old site.

By February, the debris from the burnt sites was being cleared and new timber had arrived for the rebuilding of the stores.

Hodgson’s store was to be constructed entirely of ferro concrete along the same lines as the old one.

The new hotel was rebuilt to be a substantial structure, containing 25 bedrooms, all with electric lights.

The site of the old hall had been purchased from Mr Stockton by Herbert Hodgson and Co and the new hall was built in Waller St.

As a direct result of the fire the entire street was built up to the correct level and the new buildings were erected out to the street line, so that a footpath could be constructed by the County Council.

Murchison recovered reasonably quickly as the new buildings were completed and once again the small town was all hustle and bustle.