Cappers was once a household name in Maitland, NSW, synonymous with hardware. The store had deep roots in the town, having been established in High Street in 1888 by Edward Capper, the British-born son of Birmingham hardware seller Walter William Capper.
What began as a very small affair soon grew into a sizeable emporium, packed with hardware, homewares, furniture and other goods from all over the world. Naturally the building grew with the business, and by the time the store shifted to a new address in 1963 the Cappers building was a solid landmark in Maitland’s main street.
After Cappers vacated the signature building, it was occupied by Maitland YMCA, and discos were held on the premises.
On December 6, 1971, however, the building caught fire and burned furiously, creating a tremendous hazard for the 25 firemen from three brigades whose job it was to bring the blaze under control. The fire badly damaged the adjoining Volunteer Hotel, and destroyed a bearing shop.
The following images of the aftermath of the fire come from the archive of fireman Ken Magor. I don’t know whether Ken took the photos, or whether he obtained them from another photographer. (I suspect most probably the latter.)
