Uxbridge, Ontario, July 22: One of Ontario’s oldest and most treasured historic landmarks, the Uxbridge Public Library Clock Tower, was struck by lightning Tuesday afternoon, sparking a fire that prompted the safe evacuation of library staff and children attending a summer camp program.
Thanks to the swift response of firefighters and library staff, no injuries were reported.
Uxbridge Mayor Dave Barton praised the coordinated efforts of emergency responders and municipal employees.
“Our firefighters responded quickly and extinguished the fire, and library staff did an outstanding job moving everyone safely out of the building,” Barton said.
The children participating in the library’s summer camp were relocated to Uxbridge Town Hall, where they continued arts and crafts activities in the council chambers until they were picked up by their parents.
The section of Toronto Street surrounding the library remained closed for several hours while firefighters completed their work and assessed the building. The Uxbridge Public Library will remain closed until further notice to ensure the safety of staff, visitors and emergency personnel.
Chief Administrative Officer Kristi Peshal Honey said the incident demonstrated the value of emergency preparedness.
“This is not a drill,” she said. “When a fire was discovered in the library clock tower after lightning struck, everyone responded exactly as they had trained to do.”
She credited library employees, firefighters, emergency management staff and communications teams for working together to protect both the public and one of Uxbridge’s most important heritage buildings.
The clock tower, built in 1887, is among Canada’s oldest surviving clock towers and has served as a downtown landmark for nearly 140 years.
The historic clock, purchased in 1887 from Seth Thomas Clocks and Movements of Connecticut for $315, has remained in continuous operation since its installation.
Last year, the landmark underwent an extensive restoration project to preserve its historic character. The restoration included custom-manufactured clock hands crafted by a heritage clock specialist in Grimsby, Ontario, along with refurbishment of the original clock mechanism.
The project also included the installation of a new carillon chime system, replacing the Millennium Chimes that had been installed in 1999. The new bells were donated anonymously by a community benefactor.
The Uxbridge clock tower predates several of Canada’s best-known landmarks, including Ottawa’s Peace Tower, completed in 1916, and even the National Assembly of Quebec’s clock tower.
Among Canada’s oldest surviving clock towers are the Old Town Clock on Halifax’s Citadel Hill, dating to 1801, and the HMC Dockyard Clock in Halifax, built in 1772.
While officials continue assessing the extent of the damage caused by the lightning strike, the historic clock tower remains standing—a testament to both its remarkable craftsmanship and the quick actions of firefighters and municipal staff who prevented what could have been a devastating loss of an important piece of Ontario’s heritage.