1914 Roanoke Commercial District Fire, Randolph, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/newspapers/roanokefire.txt ============================================= USGENWEB PROJECT NOTICE: In keeping with the USGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Project Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file is copyrighted and contributed by: William Fischer, Jr. ============================================= December 2001 A SERIOUS FIRE VISITS ROANOKE ---------------------------- Roanoke made a bad beginning of the new year, 1914, but hopes that her worst luck has already passed. About three o’clock Thursday morning, Jan. 1st, fire was discovered to be bursting out the windows of M. BALL’s dry goods store, which was a seething mass of flames when discovered -- only a short time after the night marshal had passed on his regular rounds. The alarm was raised, which gradually swelled, as the fire progressed, into a din of noise suggestive of the day of doom, the fire bell being joined by shots and shouts and the blowing of the [W. A. HANDLEY Manufacturing Company] factory whistle. The course of the fire was eastward, desroying [sic] ENGLEHART’s Cafe and fruit stand, MOOTY’s grocery store and the drug store of W. F. DANIELLY, in addition to BALL’s dry goods house. Nothing was saved in any of these except books and accounts by some. All were insured except ENGLEHART. On the west of the the [sic] fire Boston Store suffered greatly by smoke and water. No insurance. On the east limit of the fire’s ravages the NEVELSON-WALSH Department Store was damaged in the same way, but insurance was carried. Goods were carried out of the CARLISLE Building and out of BRITTAIN’s grocery. Across the street plate glass was cracked by the heat. For awhile it looked like the whole block was going. The building occupied by M. BALL and Wm. ENGLEHART was owned by Mrs. Mittie BURPEE; the buildings occoupied [sic] by MOOTY and DANIELLY were owned by Mrs. A. A. MOOTY. Both owners carried insurance, and it is stated that as soon as the insurance settlements are adjusted the buildings will be replaced, only with more modern structures. At the present Mr. MOOTY has his office in the old bank building and Mr. DANIELLY in the front of T. L. BELCHER & Co.’s. Both gentlemen state that they will resume business as soon as quarters can be secured. See their ads in their space as usual. Mr. BALL informs us that he hopes to reenter business here soon. Following this disastrous blaze, another alarm was given about 11 o’clock Friday night. The scene was near that of the late disaster -- in the front of E. P. MICKLE’s store, the fire seeming to originate in the wall or floor between his store and that of W. H. BRITTAIN. It was just opposite a grate in the wall opening into BRITTAIN’s store. The fire was soon put out, but not before it had damaged the store and the stock to the value of near a thousand dollars. Mr. MICKLE was fortunate, first, in having insurance, and secondly, in the fire being discovered just in time to save a total loss. At this point The Leader would urge that the owners of the lots made vacant by fire and the town authorities get together and agree upon the opening of a street or alley through the block. This would be a great protection against fire, would add to the appearance and convenience of the town, and the intrinsic and rental value of the buildings would be greatly increased by virtue of the above reasons and the further advantage of two corner lots being created. Roanoke has suffered at this point in the past. She may suffer more in the future if the proper precautions are not taken. [From The Roanoke Leader (Randolph County, Alabama), 7 Jan 1914, p.1]