"Dear Louie,

This will give you some idea of a fire in the west in winter time. This is not a 'faked' picture, but it is an actual photograph. You will notice the fire escapes are frozen to the wall & the huge block of ice on the ground is water that had been used on the fire, & frozen as it dropped on the ground.

Regards, Hugh"

Real photo postcard (RPPC) showing the Kelly Block in Winnipeg, Manitoba, heavily encased in ice after firefighters battled a winter blaze. The building facade is coated in dramatic ice formations from the water used to fight the fire.

Scene Details:

• Multi-storey commercial building facade covered in thick ice formations
• Icicles hanging from window ledges, cornices, and architectural details
• Arched window visible on lower facade
• Fire escape or ladder visible at upper left
• Caption on front reads: "Kelly Block, Winnipeg, After the Fire"
• Published by Lyall Commercial Photo Co. Limited, 265 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg
• Handwritten message on reverse describing the ice and fire scene
• Black and white real photo postcard (RPPC)

Please zoom into and look closely at the front and back photos to view condition, and feel free to send me a message if you have any questions. Thank you, D