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On February 7, 1906, the Frost & Wood Plant was devastated by fire once again.

The fire started near the kilns around 2:45 am, but because of the size of the factory, the blaze was well underway by the time the flames were discovered by two night-watchmen.

Telephones were uncommon at this point in history, so Smiths Falls had a system of fire alarm stations located throughout the town. One of the watchmen ran to the corner of Chambers and Market Streets to sound the alarm, but when he arrived, the alarm would not work and had to run further into town to find another.

However, few residents of the town heard the alarm and were surprised when they awoke the next morning and the factory was in ruins.

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The Frost & Wood Plant in 1900
Circa 1900
Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Heritage House Museum

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The fire had spread quickly once firefighters arrived. Nevertheless, the flames were under control by 6 o'clock am and the damaged surveyed.

Once the smoke had cleared, damage to the factory was estimated at $200,000 and put 400 men out of work.

"We have all known in a general indefinite kind of way of the importance of this industry to Smith's Falls, but perhaps, never did any of us realize it quite so clearly as to-day, when we go down and view the wreck and ruin of the night." (Town Topics, Rideau Record, February 1906).

The machine shop, foundry and carpenter shop were in ruins, along with thousands of dollars worth of machinery and patterns. However, the Blacksmiths shop and paint shop were heavily damaged but not destroyed. In perhaps in a stroke of luck, only 40 feet away at the Malleable, was a supply of just finished machinery ready to be brought over to the factory. This supply alone was worth $250,000.

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Disastrous Fire
8 February 1906
Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Heritage House Museum

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That morning, Francis T. Frost visited the site and vowed to rebuild the factory as quickly as possible. Knowing the importance of the company to the community, Frost promised the crowds the new factory would be bigger and better, adding they were "temporarily badly crippled, but not killed."

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Inside the Factory
28 March 1907
Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Heritage House Museum

7

The Frost & Wood Company recognized the power of advertising. The company often advertised their products through large, illustrated ads in the local papers and store front windows. After the 1906 fire, Frost & Wood increased their advertising campaign significantly, as if to remind the community the company was still in the running.

Getting the factory up and running was of the utmost importance. In many of the advertisements published after the fire, Frost & Wood never hid the fact the company had been hit with hard times, but assured readers that it would return better than ever.

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The Importance of Advertising
15 February 1906
Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
The Smiths Falls Public Library

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Almost immediately, Frost & Wood began the rebuilding process. The fire had left a maze of roofless buildings, blackened walls and destroyed machinery, but the community pulled together.

Temporary shops were set up around Smiths Falls. The company leased planing mills for wood working, as well as, electric motors to be used in temporary machine shops.

Showing just how important the company was to Smiths Falls, Town Council held an emergency meeting the afternoon of the fire. In the meeting, Town Councillors voted to loan the company $150,000 over a ten-year term to aid with the rebuilding process.

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Inside the Foundry
25 October 1944
Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Heritage House Museum

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Almost exactly one year later, the factory was rebuilt and spread over ten acres of land. Including new lumber yards, coal dumps, modern ventilation and fire protection systems, the factory was also powered entirely by an onsite electric power plant. The factory also had a new First Aid Hospital and had three nurses on staff.

After the fire, the Frost & Wood factory was considered the most up-to-date factory of its kind at the turn of the century.

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One Year Later
9 February 1906
Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Heritage House Museum

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Fortunately, the company office survived the fire in 1906. Built in 1903, the head office soon became a town landmark and was advertised as a "most attractive and spacious building."

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Frost & Wood Head Office
Circa 1935
Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Heritage House Museum