Bradwardine burns

Details

Published on Sunday, April 24, 2016

By Sheila Runions

Banner Staff

Bradwardine’s history book reports settlers first arrived in the district in 1880; the first post office opened there four years later. There were “other smaller fires in the early years” including one in 1905 which destroyed the CPR section house. Two years later a “few businesses were damaged,” and on Jan. 27, 1910 Hotel Windsor, “one of the finest hostelries in the west” was destroyed by fire. In December 1910 a “major setback” happened to the town, which suffered another “huge fire” in which seven businesses were burned to the ground, leaving only two left to serve the town. On Wednesday, April 13, 2016 another significant fire burned three-quarters of an entire block, eating up lots of dead vegetation and four structures.

Bradwardine is now considered less than a hamlet or village — only five people live there in three houses. Nonetheless, the fire is a painful loss for seven families. An old three-sided pole shelter which served as a horse barn/garage for the Bruce Cudmore family, and which has been ignored for 20 years, was destroyed. A former greenhouse, unused since Percy and Eileen Rosamond moved to Rivers in 1993, was consumed. A house which has been abandoned since 1997 was levelled and the former community hall stands no more.

The fire started because Mary “Bernadette” Epworth was burning garbage and when sparks flew out of the barrel on the windy day, the fire spread throughout the block. She lives in the house on the south side of town, lot 17. The fire burned lots 11-16 of Richardson Avenue, locations of the hall, Rosamonds’ greenhouse and the former Tad and Donna Hoyak (1984-93) or Dick and Bev Wielenga (1993-96) house. The blaze also raced down the back lane of Richardson Avenue to burn most of lots 18-24 (pole shelter) on the west side of King Avenue. Another back lane running perpendicular to Richardson burned Lots 1-6 on Elliott Street, south of the elevator.

The largest loss in terms of value and memories was the former hall. It was purchased by Ken and Barb Szapko in February 2004 and was used as storage space for seven families. The only thing insured was a brand new motorbike which had been parked in there four days prior. An estimated value of damage is not known but lost were: a like-new quad; a small utility trailer; approximately a dozen tires, eight with rims; plenty of furniture including a bedroom suite complete with a $1,000 mattress plus box spring; a stove (the fridge was removed a week earlier); pedal bicycles; baby clothes; a window air conditioner or two; 100-year-old books and other antiques; and much more the owners cannot even remember. Another sad part of this loss is the nearly five-figures spent by the Szapkos only 18 months ago to reshingle the roof.

The hall was built in 1948 and insulated with wood chips which is the reason why it burned so quickly. It was approximately 70 by 30 feet but a 10-foot addition was added in the 1960s. Hydro was disconnected by Bradwardine Hall Committee in 2000 so the hardwood floor, large enough for 120 dancers, had bevelled significantly during the weather changes the last 16 years. Heat from the  burning hall was so intense it blew metal mail boxes, located at the hall’s front door, off their moorings and popped open each box. Canada Post had a new set of boxes ready for their nine customers on Monday, April 18; when the boxes were first placed in November 1995 there were 54 families getting mail in Bradwardine.

Bernadette placed the 911 call at 12:35 p.m. on Wednesday. In the meantime, she and Barb Szapko tried their best to stop the fire reaching the hall by beating the flames with jackets. Rivers-Daly department arrived and called for mutual aid from Kenton. Both departments were there for seven hours; Rivers-Daly was called back for flare-ups later Wednesday evening and again Friday, April 15, a full 48 hours after the initial call. (Hall contents were still smouldering in the basement of that building.) When asked why an attempt was not made to remove some hall contents Barb said, “I thought the hall would be okay, but they were unable to save it.”

Although Bernadette “is taking full responsibility,” Blue Hills RCMP consider the matter still under investigation so no charges have been laid. The tiny town was a hive of activity last week with fire trucks, extra wanter tankers, RCMP and Manitoba Hydro all on scene. Two poles burned badly enough they required replacement and some overhead lines were downed as the heat melted the wires. Phone service was also interrupted for 24 hours until MTS made its repairs.