The Great Quesnel Fire of 1916
In 1915, teacher Douglas Marr Brown has settled into his role as a senior teacher at Quesnel’s public school. As he became established in the community, his letters home to New Brunswick shifted from first impressions of the town to more about his daily life. They reveal his busy social calendar, life in bustling Cariboo town, and the friendships he formed when building a life far from home.
The letters show how quickly life could change. During 1915, Douglas received the heartbreaking news of his father’s unexpected death in New Brunswick. Separated from his family by thousands of kilometers and faced with a lengthy and expensive journey across Canada, he was unable to return home immediately due to transportation issues. Just months later, in 1916, another tragedy would strike. A devastating fire swept through downtown Quesnel, destroying both hotels and leaving everyone in shock. –
You can read the rest of the Douglas Marr Brown series here.
The History of Quesnel
The area now known as Quesnel has been home to the Dakelh (Carrier) people, who had lived in the region since time immemorial. The name Dakehl means “people who travel by water,” which signifies the importance of the Fraser River and how it was an essential transportation route and a vital source of food. When European fur traders arrived in the early nineteenth century, they established trading posts that became the place where Indigenous peoples and Europeans exchanged furs and goods.
Hotels in Quesnel
In 1915, Quesnel’s hotels were a big part of the community life.
They provided not only accommodations for travellers, but for professionals like Douglas. They were also important gathering places in the community. Each hotel contained dining rooms, billiard rooms, and dance halls. Celebrations and other social events were routinely held at the hotels. Quesnel had two main hotels: the Occidental Hotel and the New Cariboo Hotel, both located on Front Street.
Occidental Hotel
In 1863 the original shack-like building on the site was moved to to create a roadway. In 1865, Thomas Brown (unrelated) and Hugh Gillis built The Occidental Hotel. When Hugh Gillis committed suicide in 1871, his shares were bought by Alfred Carson. Ten years later Thomas Brown was able to acquire Alfred Carson’s shares and be the sole owner. Unfortunately he died soon after. Over time the hotel changed ownership and was expanded. In 1909 the original hotel was demolished to make way form the new Occidental Hotel which officially opened on May 24, 1911. This one was the one Douglas Brown lived it. It was a four-story hotel with approximately 100 rooms, a dining room, and modern amenities that reflect a growing town.
Credit: Quesnel Cariboo Observer, March 20, 1915
Cariboo Hotel
The site of today’s Cariboo Hotel has a long history dating back to the Cariboo Gorld Rush. In 1865, a brewery and saloon operated here under the ownership of James Kerr and Dan Duhig. Following Dan Duhig’s death, the property was sold to Mrs. McLaughlin, who renamed it the Hotel Cariboo in 1871.
In 1887, Archibald McNaughton took possession of the hotel, although he leased its day-to-day management to others. After McNaughton’s death in June 1900, his widow sold the property to John Strand, who continued the practice of leasing the hotel to various operators. Among its proprietors were Hopwood (1900) and later F. Cannon, F. Curtis, and F. Nash (1910).
Determined to modernize the property, John Strand demolished the original hotel and constructed a new three-storey Cariboo Hotel, which officially opened on February 7, 1911. Two years later, in September 1913, the hotel’s barroom was expanded by removing the partition that separated it from the adjoining barber shop.
Further expansion began in April 1914 with the construction of a T-shaped addition on the hotel’s north side. The new building included a two-storey front section measuring 32 by 50 feet and a single-storey rear addition measuring 25 by 70 feet. The ground floor housed a moving picture theatre, barber shop, and offices, while the upper floor likely contained guest rooms and bathrooms. The Empress Theatre opened beside the Cariboo Hotel in July 1914.
Tragically, the Cariboo Hotel was destroyed in the devastating Quesnel fire of January 15, 1916. John Strand quickly rebuilt the landmark, and the new hotel reopened on September 13, 1916.
More than 150 years after a brewery and saloon first occupied the site, the Cariboo Hotel continues to operate today, having served generations of residents and visitors through numerous owners and renovations.
The Quesnel Fire of 1916
In 1916, only a year after Douglas Marr Brown wrote his letters, a fire began in the Empress Theatre of the New Cariboo Hotel. The fire travelled through downtown Quesnel and both hotels were destroyed. Only the New Cariboo Hotel was immediately rebuilt.
Ed Kepner, the owner of the newly built and destroyed Occidental Hotel was devastated. He chose not to rebuild and instead sold the lot to William T. Ewing in 1916. He purchased the Anglican Boarding School in 1921 and moved the school to the lot in 1922. The school was remodeled a few years later into the British American Hotel. By 1930 the hotel was sold to Percy Elsey who renovated the hotel and opened it as the Quesnel Hotel in April 1930. He added a beer parlor and restaurant to it in 1933. After many more renovations and changes in ownership, the present owners have renamed the hotel back to the Occidental.
“A DISASTROUS FIRE”
January 15, 1916, will ever be memorable to the inhabitants of Quesnel, wherever their future may be spent, as the date of the worst fire which ever occurred in the history of the old town. A cold spell of weather, of unprecedented duration, has visited this section and on the morning of day when the mercury reached the lowest point yet recorded here, the citizens were roused from their early slumbers by the clang of the fire alarm to find a fierce blaze ranging in the center of the business section. The flames were so far advanced before being discovered that it was impossible to do anything towards getting them under control where they originated, and attention was therefore given towards the saving of adjoining buildings.The flames spread in both directions, but the energetic work of a few citizens, aided by some forty or fifty Chinamen, succeeded in stopping the blaze before it destroyed much on the north, but despite all efforts, which included the blowing up of a building with dynamite, the devouring element swiftly swept southward until the corner of Carson street was reached, thence east for a hundred feet, before it was finally brought under control. Nine firms were completely put out of commission, including the two hotels, two general merchants, barber shop, realty office, gents’ clothing store, bank, and a meat market. A loss of at least one hundred and fifty thousand dollars was incurred, with very little of it covered by insurance.
For years this town has enjoyed immunity from serious fire which was wonderful, when we consider the natural disadvantages the people have to contend with. Our fire fighting appliances were utterly inadequate to cope with the situation, and it was also apparent in the early stages of the fire that leadership in the fight was lacking. Again, the fire spread with such terrible swiftness as almost to paralyze all combatant efforts, the roomers in the New Cariboo only escaping with the clothes they had at hand, and some in their night clothes only. Later on some system was injected into the fight, with better results.
Perhaps our very immunity in the past has made us more or less careless. If so, we have received a lesson – costly, but necessary if we are to avoid similar experiences in the future. With undiminished courage our merchants are turning their energies to again building up their different businesses, and although the task will be a difficult one, in view of the stagnation in business which usually exists at this season of the year, we have no doubt that they will win out, and that Quesnel will shortly be as good a business town as it was before the big fire.
-The Quesnel Cariboo Observer, Saturday, January 22, 1916
Douglas Marr Brown Learns of His Father’s Death
Transportation Struggles in Quesnel
In 1915, travelling to and from Quesnel was not simple. Stagecoach schedules were limited, road conditions were unpredictable, and weather could also seriously affect travel. In one of Douglas’ letters he describes the frustration of not being able to find an available stagecoach, forcing him to delay his departure. His experience offers a glimpse into the transportation challenges that shaped daily life in northern British Columbia.
BC Express Company Stage on route to Quesnel – Credit: BC Archives reference I-58117
Letters
Douglas Marr Brown’s Letter to Omar Pascha Brown (Papa) – February 1915
Note: This is page 3 and 4 of a partial letter
You notice the ink on the other page. Well that was on the paper when I started but I did not notice it until I turned the page. So I am not to blame. Received Mamma’s letter last night. John is so evidently still in pretty good form as far as sawing wood is concerned. Believe he would beat me at the job!
Wish you could get clear of that rheumatism of yours. Boil it out as I suggested in last letter and use the “green oil.” But don’t get that Omega Oil on your clothes – It will go straight through. Believe there’s not much more of interest to you happening around here. Such things as that the constable is going to be transferred or that the telegraph operator’s wife is expected to morrow, or that it is reported that C.S. Smythe, the lame shoemaker, has said that he thinks he will fail. I suppose can have little interest for you.
I suppose you are not aware that yesterday was the Chinese New Year’s Day. One Chinaman was quite delighted when I wished him a “happy new year” and another one was quite offended, “Old fashion” he said. “I keep all the same you,”
So long from your loving son, D.M. Brown.
Credit: Quesnel Museum & Archives.
Purchased with the assistance of the Friends of the Quesnel Museum
Douglas Marr Brown’s Letter to John Brown – April 3, 1915
New Cariboo Hotel Quesnel, B.C.
April 3, 1915
Dear John, I got your long letter written on the 21st to-night. Written on Papa’s birthday. I can’t bear even yet to think that we shall never again be able to wish him any more greetings. Now that your loneliness at home has somewhat gone I can tell you how some of the time since I got your first telegram has seemed to me. Or rather I can’t. I had no idea that he was seriously sick; you know he had had so much rheumatism before that I thought it was just another attack only a little more severe.
But it seemed when I read your first telegram just as if something had given way and everything was black. I do not know how I got through the next twenty minutes until recess. I think I held a class and then dismissed. Went at once to the secretary and told him that I had to leave at once if I could get a car. He said he would go right down to the bank and try to get me some money (they haven’t paid me any this year). And I’ll not ever forget the manager who refused to let them have any. For that matter it made no difference but he didn’t know that.
Then tried to get a car but there was none. Nothing going out until the stage went on Thursday morning. I had to have some- thing to do while waiting so I taught Wednesday. But oh! The day was long. After school I got the books straightened and a teacher to substitute. Then your message came at about quarter after five. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday I worked on my lots.
I want to thank you, John, for your letter. You couldn’t have told me any better. But if I could only have seen him once more. If I had only gone home last summer. But now it is too late. But I am selfish and am only making you feel worse. But I just had to say this much. Your letter has helped me so much. It has seemed such a long wait for it. And it must have been such a comfort to you that the end came so easily without any more suffering for the poor body, and that he looked so nice, so much as he used to.
I hope Mamma is well. The kindness of the people around must have helped so much. I know what I thought of the kindness of the people here and especially the Masons. The lights will be turned off in a minute and I shall close this. Tell me when you write again what the hymns were that were sung. Papa always liked music so much I know they must have sounded beautiful.
I wrote to Aunt Em after I had your telegram a day or two and you will probably soon get a letter from her. The lights are going.
Your loving brother, Douglas.
Credit: Quesnel Museum & Archives.
Purchased with the assistance of the Friends of the Quesnel Museum
The Douglas Marr Brown Collection
This collection was purchased by the Friends of the Quesnel Museum and donated to the Quesnel Museum & Archives. The letters are transcribed verbatim from original manuscripts held at the Quesnel Museum & Archives. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation have been preserved to maintain the integrity of the original documents. Editorial introductions and historical context have been added to assist modern readers and to situate the letters within the broader social and historical landscape of twentieth-century British Columbia.
Why Letters Like These Matter to British Columbia History
The Douglas Marr Brown letters offer a detailed record of a young teacher arriving in a new town and eager to join his new community. With each letter home to his family, we get a personal look at what life was like in Quesnel for the teacher in the 1910s. Preserved today at the Quesnel Museum & Archives, the Douglas Marr Brown letters are kept so that future generations can know the history of British Columbia and its people.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to the Quesnel Museum & Archives, Elizabeth Hunter, and the Friends of the Quesnel Museum for making this project possible.
