Not just Notre Dame: Savannah’s own cathedral fell victim to fire more than 100 years ago

Savannah Morning News (GA)

May 04--On April 15, 2019, a fire engulfed Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. 121 years before that -- Savannah faced the same issue.

On Feb. 6, 1898, The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist caught fire and almost was destroyed. According to information compiled by the Southern Cross, the fire was first noticed at 10 p.m. by the driver of a street car. The driver then alerted the fire station, who was tending to another fire on River Street.

It is said that it took 45 minutes before the fire trucks arrived at the cathedral and because of the fire on River Street; the water pressure was so low that the stream of water from the fire hoses barely reached the walls.

The wind was blowing southwest so the Cathedral Rectory and St. Vincent's Academy were saved. A parishioner who attended a service earlier that Sunday recalled that the Cathedral seemed abnormally warm, and there was speculation the heating furnace might have malfunctioned.

The cause of the fire was never determined.

After the fire, many churches from all over the country sent sympathy letters or donations to help rebuild the Cathedral. Most donations ranged from $1 to $25. The Cathedral had an insurance policy that only covered $60,000 of the $175,000 to $200,000 worth of damage.

Rebuilding began immediately and the Cathedral was dedicated October 28, 1900, by the apostolic delegate to the United States, Archbishop Sebastian Martinelli, according to savannahcathedral.org.

Unlike The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral will cost over $1 billion to repair the damage, according to some experts.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he wanted the Cathedral rebuilt in five years. However, some have said it will take 10 to 15 years before the Cathedral is completely restored.

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