1
The morning of the CKNX fire - March 8, 19628 March 1962
old Wingham High School, John Street, Wingham, Ontario
Credits:North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario
2
It Began With a Rumble ...John Langridge recalls the morning it happened. The early morning crew was about set to come to the station to begin programming at 6:15 am. CKNX caretaker Alex Skinn heard a rumbling sound at 6:00 am. Unable to locate the source, which was growing frighteningly louder, he made a dash outside, leaving his jacket behind him. Moments later there was a tremendous explosion and the building was aflame. (100 Yrs, 141)
"The cause of the explosion and fire, which broke out shortly after 6 am in the TV engineering labs only minutes after caretaker Alex Skinn finished cleaning the area is not known. Wingham Fire Chief James Carr said he does not plan to ask the Ontario fire marshal's office for further investigation. Mr. Skinn, the only person in the building at the time, fled without his coat, as fire quickly spread through the radio and TV buildings. Volunteer firemen narrowly escaped injury when a portion of the brick wall of the radio station collapsed, showering down bricks as they stood on the roof of the TV building fighting the flames. Firemen from Wingham, Teeswater and Blyth were still pouring water into the fire six hours after it broke out. (LFP - 7, 1962)
Mr Skinn said he was on the second floor of the television building when he heard a "terrible bang" below. The caretaker said he ran downstairs and was met by billowing smoke. He ran into Mr. Cruickshank's office and told the telephone operator of the fire before fleeing through the front door. (LFP - 7, 1962)
The early morning crew arrived to find the building on fire and quickly jumped into the large truck parked beside the building that served as a portable studio. They drove the truck to the tower site south of Wingham and went on air only 40 minutes after the regular sign-on time, delivering the story of their own tragedy. (100 Yrs, 141)
3
CKNX studios in flames8 March 1962
old Wingham High School, John Street, Wingham, Ontario
Credits:North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario
4
This section of the building was built when CKNX took over the old high school building in 1955.Fall of 1963
old Wingham High School, John Street, Wingham, Ontario
Credits:North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario
5
Smoke Pillowed Everywhere ..."A strong east wind fanned dense clouds of smoke and embers over the center of town during the CKNX fire last Thursday morning. The roof of A.D. Mac William's home, a full block away, was ignited." (WAT-6, 1962) Firemen from Teeswater, Blyth and Wingham were powerless to save the structure. (WAT-6, 1962)
6
Johnny Brent & Bruce St. George unload a CFRB helicopter full of equipment the day of the fire.8 March 1962
old Wingham High School, John Street, Wingham, Ontario
Credits:North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario
7
As the Fire Raged ...The staff, Mr. Langridge recalls, stood around hopelessly watching firemen battle the flames for awhile, then began to gather in various homes to discuss the problem and what to do. The fire was still at its height when a convoy of trucks, cars and station wagons arrived from CFPL in London with all the spare equipment that could be rounded up by that station. It was just the beginning of the tremendous cooperation that other people in the industry were about to show. The record collection of the station was destroyed so records came from other stations and record suppliers. Suppliers came through with emergency equipment. National advertising agencies came through with duplicates of commercial materials lost in the fire. By nightfall with all this help, CKNX television was back on the air, telecast from the new high school building across the way. The newscast included film of the fire which had been shot and processed through the cooperation of CFPL. (100 Yrs, 141)
CFRB station in Toronto rushed equipment to Wingham by helicopter. The aircraft landed in Wingham at 3:00 pm Thursday while firemen were still pouring water on the remains of the CKNX studios. (WAT-6, 1962)
"The response has been terrific. Radio and television stations as far away as Regina and Moose Jaw have offered to send records and taped music." About 10,000 records were destroyed in the fire, as well as all the broadcasting equipment, office records and equipment. (LFP - 7, 1962) Revenue Minister George Nowlan said yesterday in the House of Commons the CBC will provide all possible assistance to get the radio and TV stations back in full operation. Mr. Nowlan was replying to a question by Marvin Howe, MP (PC-Wellington-Huron). (LFP - 7, 1962)
Walter Blackburn, president and managing director of London Free Press Printing Company Ltd., sent London's CFPL radio and television station personnel and equipment to assist. Glen Robitaille, director of engineering, electronics division of the company; W.C. Wingrove, assistant manager of CFPL-TV; Keith Roberts, chief operator of CFPL radio and Don Wilson, technician with CFPL went to Wingham. Programming and continuity assistance was also offered. (LFP - 7, 1962)
8
Staff gathered during the fire to brainstorm their next move - John Cruickshank, 3rd from left8 March 1962
old Wingham High School, John Street, Wingham, Ontario
Credits:North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario
9
On Air Within the Day ...March 8, 1962 - just as the television and radio station were well-established and doing fine financially, a disastrous fire struck in the morning of March 8, 1962. It completely destroyed the building, all its equipment and all the historical information related to the early days of the operation. CKNX got offers of help from radio and television station all over Canada, due to the many friends Doc had made over the years. Due to help in the form of borrowed equipment, the radio station was only 20 minutes late signing on that morning. It used equipment at the transmitter tower, 5 miles south of Wingham to sign on. Its lead story was the fire at CKNX. Before 6 pm, that same day, CKNX TV was back on the air with network programming. At 11 pm, there was a live news broadcast from the Wingham High School auditorium. The news broadcast showed the smouldering fire at the CKNX, just 200 yards away from the High School (100 yrs, 23)
10
An overhead photograph of the burning CKNX radio and television studios.8 March 1962
old Wingham High School, John Street, Wingham, Ontario
Credits:North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario
11
Smouldering ruins of the CKNX radio and television studios the day after the fire.9 March 1962
old Wingham High School, John Street, Wingham, Ontario
Credits:North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario
12
While the Building Still Burned ...A Toronto newspaper headlined its story on the tragedy, "Death knell for a station" but Doc Cruickshank was on the air telling his listeners that the people at CKNX would rebuild "bigger and better than ever." As Dick Lewis in a recent article in That's Show Business pointed out: "Everything went up in smoke. Everything, that is except the indominable spirit of Doc Cruickshank and his staff, who, as soon as the frenzy was over, started methodically and with determination-along with their friends in the industry and the area - to rebuild CKNX."(100 Yrs, 141)
Within 18 months after the fire, the two stations were located in a new building on the site of the old one. Those intervening months were rough as the stations made do in temporary makeshift quarters but it proved again the staying power, the sheer determination of this little broadcasting business in this little town. (50 years, 1976, p.8-9) (VS-1, 1976)
Damage was estimated at $750,000. (LFP - 7, 1962)
Damages - All equipment in the studio building, except two damaged studio cameras and some props, were destroyed in the fire, as well as films, photographs, control room equipment, darkroom equipment and the switchboard. About six inches of water covered the floor of the main TV studio. Fire swept through the entire building but the studios were not believed structurally damaged. A television relay tower adjoining the building was scorched. The radio studios, built about 60 years ago as the Wingham high school, were burned out and only the blackened shell remained. The television annex was added in 1955. (LFP - 7, 1962)
13
The main building was in ruins, only the studios were salvageable.9 March 1962
old Wingham High School, John Street, Wingham, Ontario
Credits:North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario
14
In the Days After the Fire ...Radio technicians from McCurdy Ltd. from Toronto came and worked all Thursday night to install a new control room for the radio station in the McKibbon store building on Wingham's main street. The all-new equipment was rushed to Wingham following the Thursday morning fire and was in action on Friday. (WAT-6, 1962)
The Wingham District High School offered its auditorium and stage for use by the TV station as a temporary studio, as well as a classroom for an office. The Wingham United Church offered the use of its gymnasium. Several town residents promised the loan of vacant offices. Mr. Cruickshank predicted the television studios may be partially put in use within three days. (LFP - 7, 1962)
A business office was established in what had been a jewelery store. (The Story of CKNX and its People, 2008)
A photo lab was set up in the home of photographer Bill Connell. (The Story of CKNX and its People, 2008)
The nearby future home of Pat Bennett was used for the commercial department to re-construct daily operating logs and commercial contracts for both radio and television (The Story of CKNX and its People, 2008)
Since the burned out TV studio was still structurally sound ... in a matter of days, it had been cleaned ... re-equipped with two RCA black and white cameras ... a newsroom ... program department and everything necessary to produce LIVE TV SHOWS. (The Story of CKNX and its People, 2008)
 |
 |
 |
 |