Local history: Brownsville Flats in Mayo county town were destroyed 68 years ago
By Tom Gillespie
ON Wednesday, September 19, 1956, extensive damage was caused when a serious outbreak of fire occurred at Brownsville, off Main Street, Castlebar.
A large three-storey building, comprising eight apartments, was gutted. The building destroyed adjoined a number of occupied flats and the tenants had to be evacuated as the flames advanced towards them.
The fire was discovered at 7.30 p.m. but the fire brigade, who were actually taking part in a fire exercise at the local station, were not summoned for some time. During this vital period an excited crowd watched the blaze but no one phoned the brigade or reported the matter to the gardaí.
It was assumed that this had been done from the beginning.
When the brigade did arrive 10 minutes after being summoned, the fire had a firm grip on the building, and was rapidly advancing towards the flats, while it seriously endangered a large timber store and extensive warehouse of Mr. T.F. Durcan, Main Street.
In fact, at this stage, the whole of Main Street was in danger of being razed, so fierce was the fire.
The 12 members of the brigade, under Fire Chief Captain Garvey, showing resourcefulness and considerable courage, operated both from the Brownsville side as well as from Mr. Durcan’s yard.
It was not long until a hole was cut in the roof of one of the flats, and from this opening they succeeded in confining the fire to the large store.
After some hours they had the fire well under control, and members of the brigade kept vigil throughout the night lest there might be a second outbreak.
Westport brigade arrived very promptly on the scene too, and stood by in case their services were required.
The destroyed building, formerly a grain and lime store, housed the Western Furniture Company and a number of other stores. The Furniture Factory, owned by Mr, Sean Buckley, was established one year previously (1955), when the owner, after returning from England, invested his savings in the project. Stocks and machinery valued at £2,000 were destroyed.
The factory gave employment to three men and Mr. Buckley told The Connaught Telegraph that the machinery was not covered by insurance.
The loss then to this enterprising young man, who was married, and resided at St. Bridget’s Crescent, Castlebar, was an exceptionally severe one.
Portion of the building was used as a garage for private cars, and one car was salvaged during the fire. Gardaí had to control the large crowd which assembled and traffic had to be diverted from Main Street.
Browneville Buildings were the property of Mr. R.G. Browne, auctioneer, Westport.
Browneville Flats were a row of two and three-storey buildings that were demolished in the 1980s. A dozen of so families occupied the flats and the last resident to vacate the area was the late Mrs. Mary King (pictured) who raised her family there.
The street ran from the archway entrance on Main Street down to the town river. Now the site serves as a large car park for Staunton’s Pharmacy.