Several years back when I first started this project, I asked Larry Schulz if he still had the home movie of the Knapp Mansion fire his Dad took in February 1959. He said he did and would be happy to make a video transfer for me. In attempting that, the 8mm film just crumbled and fell apart on him. I told him that it was allright because I can recall it in my mind anytime I want to and probably really didn't need to see it again.

What follows is a mixture of some newly discovered still photos & video captures all supplied by former MBFD Chief Matt Gioia. I first saw the video in January 2003. Watching it was like seeing Knapp's place burn down all over again. Not a happy moment in spite of the spectacle and didn't ever figure I'd be incorporating scenes from it on this website. However after learning what I did about the history of the place, I thought it was fitting if only to communicate what a great loss it was and to give you a bit of how I felt seeing Knapp's place burn up. Like Pat Messinetti said the morning after the Bayview fire, the loss was far, far greater than the amounts on an insurance claim.

The fire at Bayview brought an end to a 300 year old piece of living American history. If you came to this page without first learning something about the fascinating past of this place and the folks who lived in it, you are cheating yourself and I suggest you go back a bit. You can start here: "PATTERSQUAS"

By the way I checked the weather in Canada for the night of February 22, 1986 . It was 7 degrees in Ontario. I would imagine it was just as cold or colder at Richard Floyd's grave in New Brunswick province.