Knights of Columbus Hostel fire
Encyclopedia
The Knights of Columbus Hostel fire was a structure fire
that occurred during World War II
on Saturday, December 12, 1942, in St. John's
, Newfoundland
in a hostel
operated by the Knights of Columbus
, a Roman Catholic fraternal organization.
99 civilians and military personnel perished. Newfoundlanders and U.S. servicemen alike lost their lives.
The fire was likely an incidence of enemy sabotage
orchestrated by agents of Nazi Germany
. It was one of a number of suspicious fires in St. John's that winter. If this is true, these fires would be among the few successful (even if minor) Axis attacks on North America
.
. In addition to local forces, personnel from several foreign countries passed through St. John's, an important staging point for trans-Atlantic convoys.
The then-British-colony was represented by the Newfoundland Militia, billeted at Shamrock Field, and Canadian forces were stationed at Torbay
and Gander.
The United States
was busy building a series of bases in Newfoundland. The large American Army base, Fort Pepperrell
, was built on the shores of Quidi Vidi Lake
, on land leased for 99 years from the Newfoundland government. This brought thousands of American servicemen to be stationed in St. John’s.
Warships filled the harbour, and navy men and merchant seamen swelled the population of the capital city. When all these soldiers and sailors went off-duty, filling their free time became important, and one such place the servicemen turned to for recreation was the Knights of Columbus Hostel on Harvey Road.
) as a “sleeping, eating and recreation centre for servicemen.” It included a reading room, a restaurant, toilets, showers, a dormitory where men could stay, a recreation room, and a large auditorium equipped with both a stage for live performances and a projection booth for showing films.
The building was horseshoe
-shaped and faced south toward Harvey Road. It was covered entirely by a gabled roof. Its main section was about 115 feet (35.1 m) long and 38 feet (11.6 m) wide, standing two storeys high; At each end, a wing extended north from the rear of the main section, with a courtyard behind the main section in the space between the wings. The east wing, also two storeys high and the same width as the main section, extended approximately 88 feet (26.8 m). The west wing was of the same dimensions, but only one storey in height.
Structure fire
A structure fire is a fire involving the structural components of various residential buildings ranging from single-family detached homes and townhouses to apartments and tower blocks, or various commercial buildings ranging from offices to shopping malls...
that occurred during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on Saturday, December 12, 1942, in St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
in a hostel
Hostel
Hostels provide budget oriented, sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms may also be available...
operated by the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
, a Roman Catholic fraternal organization.
99 civilians and military personnel perished. Newfoundlanders and U.S. servicemen alike lost their lives.
The fire was likely an incidence of enemy sabotage
Sabotage
Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening another entity through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. In a workplace setting, sabotage is the conscious withdrawal of efficiency generally directed at causing some change in workplace conditions. One who engages in sabotage is...
orchestrated by agents of Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. It was one of a number of suspicious fires in St. John's that winter. If this is true, these fires would be among the few successful (even if minor) Axis attacks on North America
American Theater (1939–1945)
The American Theater of World War II was a minor area of operations mainly due to the continent's geographical separation from the central theaters of conflict in Europe and Asia...
.
History
A large military presence had developed in St. John’s since the outset of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In addition to local forces, personnel from several foreign countries passed through St. John's, an important staging point for trans-Atlantic convoys.
The then-British-colony was represented by the Newfoundland Militia, billeted at Shamrock Field, and Canadian forces were stationed at Torbay
Torbay
Torbay is an east-facing bay and natural harbour, at the western most end of Lyme Bay in the south-west of England, situated roughly midway between the cities of Exeter and Plymouth. Part of the ceremonial county of Devon, Torbay was made a unitary authority on 1 April 1998...
and Gander.
The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was busy building a series of bases in Newfoundland. The large American Army base, Fort Pepperrell
Fort Pepperrell
Pepperrell Air Force Base, previously known as Fort Pepperrell, was a former United States military base located in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada which operated from 1941-1960....
, was built on the shores of Quidi Vidi Lake
Quidi Vidi Lake
Quidi Vidi Lake is a mile long body of water located at the east end of the city of St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. The lake has a long history of hosting sporting events, with the most renowned being the annual Royal St. John's Regatta, said to be the oldest continuous sporting event still held...
, on land leased for 99 years from the Newfoundland government. This brought thousands of American servicemen to be stationed in St. John’s.
Warships filled the harbour, and navy men and merchant seamen swelled the population of the capital city. When all these soldiers and sailors went off-duty, filling their free time became important, and one such place the servicemen turned to for recreation was the Knights of Columbus Hostel on Harvey Road.
Construction
The hostel was described (in the post-fire enquiry by the Royal Newfoundland ConstabularyRoyal Newfoundland Constabulary
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is a police force in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It provides policing to the communities of St. John's and the Northeast Avalon Peninsula, Corner Brook, Churchill Falls, and Labrador City....
) as a “sleeping, eating and recreation centre for servicemen.” It included a reading room, a restaurant, toilets, showers, a dormitory where men could stay, a recreation room, and a large auditorium equipped with both a stage for live performances and a projection booth for showing films.
The building was horseshoe
Horseshoe
A horseshoe, is a fabricated product, normally made of metal, although sometimes made partially or wholly of modern synthetic materials, designed to protect a horse's hoof from wear and tear. Shoes are attached on the palmar surface of the hooves, usually nailed through the insensitive hoof wall...
-shaped and faced south toward Harvey Road. It was covered entirely by a gabled roof. Its main section was about 115 feet (35.1 m) long and 38 feet (11.6 m) wide, standing two storeys high; At each end, a wing extended north from the rear of the main section, with a courtyard behind the main section in the space between the wings. The east wing, also two storeys high and the same width as the main section, extended approximately 88 feet (26.8 m). The west wing was of the same dimensions, but only one storey in height.