1923 Fire in Chapel Breaches Church

St Joseph Church Damaged by Fire Burlington Free Press March 9, 1923 Explosion of Gas From Leaking Pipe in Blind Partition Gives Firemen Busy Two Hours, During Which Pews were Chopped Away Fire which started by an explosion of gas from a leaking pipe in a blind partition did heavy damage to St. Joseph's Church on Allen Street yesterday forenoon.

The fire started in the basement chapel in a blind partition which contained gas pipes and electric wires. There was a Cross-T on the gas pipe and a plug on each side of the pipe. One of these plugs in some way probably became loosened so it leaked and filled the space between the partition walls with illuminating gas. The janitor smelled the gas and taking a paraffin taper used to light altar candles started to find the leak. The tiny flame of his taper ignited the accumulated gas and a muffled explosion followed. The flames soon filled the partition and then followed beneath the floor of the main auditorium and burst up through the floor.

The firemen were called at 10:35 and found the church filled with smoke. It was necessary to chop away the pews, flooring and break down part of the partition in the basement before effective streams of water could be used to quench the flames.

The Blessed Sacrament was not reserved in the high altar at the time, but the Rev. Norbert Proulx, pastor of St. Joseph's parish, ordered the altar fittings removed and the costly vestments were taken from the sacristy and removed to the pastor's residence, which is connected with the church by a cloister.

It was afternoon before the firemen left the church. The fire alarm did not function perfectly and the bell rang confused strokes instead of the number on the box where the alarm was turned in.

St. Joseph's church is said to be the largest church edifice in New England, north of Boston, although some others have a larger seating capacity. It is of stone and built in the basilican type of architecture.

The church and contents are insured through the T. S Peck Insurance Agency, the building it is said, for about $65,000 and the contents for $10,500, and the estimated loss probably is about 20 percent of the amount of insurance carried. The ceiling of the nave, and the reredos, and ceiling of the sanctuary are decorated with painted fresco's and it is impossible to accurately estimate the cost of renewing the work, which is badly damaged by smoke.

The Rev. Norbert Proulx expressed in hearty terms his appreciation and gratitude to Fire Chief Stockwell and his firemen for their prompt and effective work in preventing more serious damage to the church and its property.
 

CHANGES IN CHURCH

Burlington Free Press April 30, 1923 Interior of St. Joseph's to be Redecorated, Following Recent Fire St. Joseph's Church is to undergo completed interior re-decoration, it was announced at all the masses there yesterday. It will require a great amount of staging to do this work as the main part of the church is spacious and lofty. Frank L. Bergeron, who has the contract for the erection of the staging, will put five or six men on the job today, it is expected.

The recent fire, which resulted in an approximate damage of over $14,000 necessitates an immediate change, which probably, without the misfortune would not have been made until next year, at least. Insurance covers some of this property loss.

The changes for the most part in the decoration will be radical. It is also said that there will be some re-construction included in the project. Although this work will not interfere with the church services, it will not be finished before next fall. The present style of church decoration there has been unchanged for some time. The work in the main church will be completed before any changes are made in the chapel below.

A few necessary repairs on the floors were made directly after the fire, but the damage was mostly effected on the walls and ceiling by smoke. Some re-construction, as well as re-finishing was recently done in the parish hall.

INTERIOR OF ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH RADICALLY ALTERED AND RE-DECORATED

Burlington Free Press September 5, 1923 Redecorated in white, cream and flesh colors and gold, the interior of St. Joseph's Church has been radically altered, and is now open to the public for inspection. The main part of the church is finished, although the pews and floors have yet to be varnished, and it will be at least four more weeks before the contract has been fulfilled.

Sinai Richer, a French artist who has studied for five years with noted masters in France, Germany, and Italy, has painted a large picture of the Last Supper which has been set high over the main altar of the church. The picture, which is done on a canvas, 21 feet long and 10 feet wide, is an oil painting, well worthy of inspection. Mr. Richer painted the picture here in 25 days. The canvas has been fixed to the wall with a mixture of flour and honey. Mr. Richer also repainted all the statues in the church.



Emery Hanault of this city is in charge of the entire work. Mr. Richer has done some work in the state before, having painted the home of Dr. Webb in Shelburne. He has done work in some of the largest churches in the country and says that St. Joseph's is equal in beauty to any that he has seen.