In November 1969, fire struck the business of Shares and the Bridge Street premises were very badly damaged.
Shares was not the only store to be hit by a major fire.
As Christmas approached in 1954, a fire began in the basement of Joplings and spread rapidly. The glow could be seen from almost twenty miles away.
And in 1956, a blaze destroyed half of the Castletown branch of Ryhope and and Silksworth Co-operative Society.
1. Tackling the blaze
More firemen direct hoses from the opposite side of Bridge Street near St Mary's R C Church. Photo: Sunderland Echo
2. Surveying the damage
Firemen still hard at work on the fire ravaged building, the morning after the blaze broke out. Photo: Sunderland Echo
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The scene at Shares Store. Photo: Sunderland Echo
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Tackling a major town centre incident. Photo: Sunderland Echo