Talbot County GaArchives News.....A $95,000 Fire Loss At Butler April 12 1906
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Carla Miles cmhistory@mchsi.com November 15, 2003, 11:58 pm

The Talbotton New Era

The Talbotton New Era
Thursday, April 12, 1906
Page Six

A $95,000 Fire Loss At Butler

The heart of the business part of Butler was consumed by fire Friday.  Fifteen 
stores and business establishments, including the two handsome and valuable 
brick and stone buildings recently erected and owned by respectively by Dr. 
Wayne Riley and I.F. Peebles, and in which valuable gas fixtures has just been 
installed, were destroyed.  These buildings were new and the most valuable and 
substantial in the place.

The total loss is conservatively placed at $65,000, with a total insurance of 
about $12,500.  Where these fifteen stores stood at the close of yesterday’s 
business hour there is nothing to greet the owners save the smouldering ashes 
left in the wake of the flames and there are thirty-five people without 
employment.

The fire was first discovered in the upper story of Fountain’s warehouse, 
situated southwest of the main business block, and the wind was blowing almost 
a gale from this direction.  In this warehouse were stored nearly one hundred 
bales of cotton.  The sample room was soon in flames and it was consumed.  Next 
to this were Fountain’s stables, which were consumed with seven head of horses, 
besides many buggies and wagons.

Nearby and on the corner stood the Masonic Hall, the first story of which was 
occupied by G.O. Davis, merchant, whose actual loss was $300, which was 
destroyed in a short time.

The burning of this structure started the fire down the row of wooden buildings 
in front of the courthouse, on the south side, which was licked up in rapid 
succession, and in the following order:

J.T. Haywood, merchant and restauranteur; C.A. Williams, grocer; S.E. Brown, 
grocer; B.W. Carter, gun and watchsmith; Miss M. West, milliner; Wayne Riley, 
druggist; E.F. Peebles, general merchant; occupying three buildings and with a 
new stock of goods valued at approximately $10,000.

Dr. W.W. Edwards, likewise lost his office, surgical instruments and 
medicines.  Miss M. West had no insurance and her loss was perhaps the most 
complete of all.  Taken altogether, this destruction of property owned, in 
large part by merchants who were operating on small capital and who had their 
hard earnings of many years swept out from under them in a few hours, is 
strikingly sad and deplorable.  All will rebuild at once, who are able to do so 
and commence all over again.


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