Miramichi landmark destroyed

A landmark and heritage building in northern New Brunswick has been destroyed by fire.

The Opera House nightclub in Miramichi went up in flames Saturday afternoon.

"It's just a pile of brick now," said police Sgt. Leslie Saunders.

Backhoes knocked down what was left of the 2½-storey building, he said.

"They had to tear all the walls and everything down 'cause they were going to fall. All of the wooden structure inside and the roof all let go, it was just the four big brick walls, so they had to tear them down."

Some of the surrounding buildings were also damaged in the blaze, said Saunders.

"One house…the garage part of the wall fell on it and the other wall fell down and touched one of the other buildings next door to it."

Investigation continues

Two people were in the building when the fire started, but escaped unharmed, said divisional fire Chief Randy MacTavish.

Investigators believe the fire started upstairs, but said it's too soon to speculate on the cause or whether it's considered suspicious.

"We're still investigating," said MacTavish. "The chief of police and the fire marshal's office and myself will be questioning a few of the workers there just to see, like I say, what they saw before they exited the building."

Meanwhile, many patrons of the popular watering hole, as well as current and former staff members, are still reeling from the news, based on comments being posted on a pre-existing Facebook site.

"I can't believe it's gone forever now," wrote Sasha Forrest.

"No way. That's horrible. Sad day," posted Ryan White.

The Romanesque revival style structure was built in 1903 by H.B. McDonald, according to the Canada's Historic Places website.

It was originally built for the Loyal Orange Lodge No. 47 and was known as The Orange Hall. It opened on March 14, 1904.

Lodge members met above the theatre, which was a centre for entertainment on circuit. Many people of national recognition were featured there over the years, including Pauline Johnson, an aboriginal poetess, the website states.

By 1909, the Opera House was showing moving pictures. Years later, it was turned into a nightclub.

Some of the structure's key elements that define its heritage value include:

• Continuous sandstone course lintel on front elevation.
• Brick cornice work and brick arch work over windows.
• Brick basket weave running course between first and second levels.