Walking Tour: St. John's Downtown and 1892 Great Fire

Walking Tour: St. John's Downtown and 1892 Great Fire On July 8, 1892, St. John's experienced its biggest fire, where 2 thirds of St. John's laid in ruins. My family has lived in St. John's.

John's since the early 1890s and lived on George and New Gower Streets. I grew up on McFarlane Street behind the Delta Hotel. My father had so many stories I wrote them down; and I am in the process of writing a book about the streets of St. The information also led to this walking tour. This walking tour of approximately 1.5 to 2 hours follows the outline of the Great Fire of 1892. It starts with a history of St. John’s; the battles with the French; and while walking, unique stories about George Street, Burst Heart Hill, Bates Hill, Churches, Court House, the shortest street in North America, Jelly Bean Row, where and how the 1892 great fire started, the house with the Titanic connection, Shawnadithit – the last of the Beothuk, and much more. Also, we will walk on a few streets where other tours do not go explaining which houses survived the fire, what life was like in the 1950s and 1960s on these streets, etc. We will walk by the restaurants where the locals, and the townies who return home for visits, go to for the best fish and chips in St. John’s, The Rooms, the school where the CBC TV show Son of a Critch was filmed, Bannerman Park, The Colonial Building, Lieutenant Governor’s House, etc. I volunteered as a beaver leader, coached boys and girls over 13 years - t-ball, soccer, hockey and basketball, provided University students with budgeting sessions, raised funds for University soccer and basketball teams, wrote a children's book - My Allowance (2,000 copies sold). Appeared in the CBC TV show "Son of a Critch" during the first 3 seasons.

09/15/2026

Episode 2 of Son of a Critch - Teach a Man to Fish is on tonite. Watch for the BIS (Benevolent Irish Society) boys.

09/08/2026
Come visit Me and Mi Company at the St. John's Farmer's Market Book Fair on Sunday between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. Copies...
04/10/2026

Come visit Me and Mi Company at the St. John's Farmer's Market Book Fair on Sunday between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. Copies of my book "Just Picture" The Streets of St. John's will be available.

Great day, great lunch and great view at The Post Taphouse Restaurant and Bar in Torbay yesterday.
03/27/2026

Great day, great lunch and great view at The Post Taphouse Restaurant and Bar in Torbay yesterday.

03/11/2026

Should be interesting to see.

01/27/2026

Just spent an incredible week speaking with the people of Nuuk, Greenland. Like Canadians, they do not want to become the 51st State. I can’t say enough about Greenland. The people are as lovely as the landscape.

Tomorrow, Thursday, December 18, 2025, I will be at the 2nd Annual Milestone "Last Minute" Merry Market at Mazol Shrine ...
12/17/2025

Tomorrow, Thursday, December 18, 2025, I will be at the 2nd Annual Milestone "Last Minute" Merry Market at Mazol Shrine Centre, 530 Topsail Road from 12 noon to 8:00 pm selling my new book, Just Picture The Streets of St. John's. There is a limited supply. Please see attached.

Moses Harvey Presented by The Kirk October 16, 2025 7:00 pm.Moses Harvey is known as the first recognized marine conser...
10/13/2025

Moses Harvey Presented by The Kirk October 16, 2025 7:00 pm.
Moses Harvey is known as the first recognized marine conservationist and identified the impacts of overfishing on the Grand Banks as early as the 1870s. He was instrumental in establishing the first Department of Fisheries and the first fish hatchery. He brought world-wide attention to NL when he confirmed the Giant Squid was not a mythical creature. He is well known for his documentation of the St. John’s Great Fire of 1892 and as involved in the great re-build of the City.

After 5 years of research, I am pleased to announce that I have completed my first book on the streets of St. John’s. M...
09/18/2025

After 5 years of research, I am pleased to announce that I have completed my first book on the streets of St. John’s. Many thanks to everyone who shared stories and resources.
This book includes 40 streets selected from the 1800s to those developed in the 1960s. It covers the history and many interesting facts and stories about the streets. I have stories from many other St. John’s residents and plan to continue with another book about other streets in the near future.
On Sunday, September 21, 2025 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, I will be at the St. John’s Farmer’s Book Fair Market 2025 (245 Freshwater Road.) Books are $30 and there is a limited supply. I’ll be located at Booth 53.

Amazing picture. I was on Signal Hill a few hours before the picture was taken.
09/11/2025

Amazing picture. I was on Signal Hill a few hours before the picture was taken.

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada . Corn Moon Yesterday.

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