On April 7, 1849 the entire block was devastated by a fire, cause unknown, that began in a yard and stable belonging to Post’s Tavern halfway up the block from King Street on the east side of Jarvis. The fire damaged many commercial buildings, the north end of the market building, offices of two newspapers, and St. James Cathedral. The open cemetery around the cathedral broke the fire and saved the courthouse, fire hall, and St. Andrews Church on the west side of Church Street. Many of the destroyed commercial buildings were rebuilt and back in operation by August.
St. James Church in the aftermath of the Great Fire 1849
