Chapter 9

When the fire, which nearly destroyed Richibucto in August 1921 reached the full height of its fury, the residents, couldn't decide if the gasoline barrels were flying through the air or bullets. «picture»

Shortly before midnight, the first alarm was struck. The old Peter Barnett place was on fire. Swiftly it spread to the George O'Leary's home. This was directly behind where N.B. Tel operates from today on Evangeline Street (formally Halley St.). The townspeople managed to get that effort under control. They went to bed, congratulating themselves for a job well done. They had no sooner settled down for what they believed to be a good and well deserved sleep than the alarm went again. This time the fire had shifted from Pete Barnett's (near where Dos Poirier lives on Main Street). Zack Leger's barn was on fire (back of the Leger Hotel). The night of the fire was windy. People had been trapped by the gale for two days near the North Beach Lighthouse. When Nick Mazerolle made it back to town in his little sailboat, the first person he saw was Mrs. Jude Robichaud (Vince Robichaud's grandmother). He quickly gasped; "Is my home destroyed"? Mrs. Robichaud calmly replied; "No, but all around it is"! The fire aided by a "Norwester", it had taken its toll. «picture»