Newspapers / The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.) / Aug. 18, 1942, edition 1 / Page 40
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Hot Time In The "Ole" Town In 1883 Town Had Its Big Fires And Fairly Often Years Ago Ninety Percent of Business District Burned Down In Late 1883 ? Coming here in the early eigh ties, Mr. Chas. Smallwood appar ently thought he had picked out a hot spot on earth. He had been here only a short time before the big fire of 1883 swept 90 per cent of the business district between midnight and dawn of Decem ber 8th. Starting in a store room near the Buck Slade store about where the Guaranty Bank is now located, the fire burned all the way down to Smithwick Street, burning the Slade store, a brick wood store operated by Groves and Peel, and buildings belonging to N. Staton Godard, Roberson's bar, Alf Rogers' and the big store of Biggs and Simmons on the north side of the main street. The fire jumped the street and start ed burning Church Hardison's beef market almost in front of the Slade store, or about where Rose's dime store is now located. Two or three small shacks, one operated by George Williams, a small wooden drug store operated by the late S. R. Biggs and Elder C. B. Hassell's store on the cor ner of Main and Smithwick Streets were burned on the north side of the main thoroughfare. While the town's main business district was burning, fire broke out at the old river wharf, de stroying a railroad warehouse and PROPRIETORS PLANTERS AND CAROLINA WAREHOUSES The big quartet, Messrs. Sylvester Lilley, John A. Manning, Carlyle Langley and John Gar- l| kin, are all set tor a big season at the Planters and New Carolina Warehouses in Williimotosi. Combining rare ingenuity, ability, knowledge, determination and the means, these (our men have what it takes to sales and operate warehouses, and they can be expected to cut a big figure as co-operators of the WtUiamston Market this IMS son son. They are inviting all farmers everywhere to start with them on their first sale at the Planters Tuesday. August 25th, with the assurance that once a customer, always a easterner. / the river steamer, "Commerce." It was a hectic time in the ole town all right, but as the embers died down so has the history of the fire dimmed in the memories of those who now vaguely re member the fire as the biggest in the history of the town, j The old railroad train, stand ing at the foot of Smithwick Street, blew its whistle and vol i unteers were called to fight the 'fire at the river. But property owners up town begged the vol unteers not to leave and go to the river. No records are available, but i it is believed that the lues that | night was in the neighborhood of, $200,000. Elder Hasseil's store,' well stocked, covered the lots where the Welcome Inn and the shoe shop now stand. The fire was checked there, leaving a few buildings further down Main Street and one or two on West Main about where Eagle's store now stands. About two years later, or in 1885, fire destroyed the old wood-1 en courthouse and jail on the : brink of the river hill. Many old ' ? records were lost to posterity with the exception of one book which a county officer happened to have at his home at the time. According to stories handed down during the years, a defend ant, facing a charge in the courts, burned the old hall of justice to destroy the evidence. No one was ever prosecuted, but the person who was said to have fired the structure left soon thereafter for another state where he made good. About a year later, Sam New berry's big livery stable on the corner of Main and Watts Streets bumed. Mrs. Clement's office building, nearby, was also de stroyed. On December 18, 1801, the fire, retracing its path of eight years before, burned the S. B. Biggs' two-story brick drug store. An old wooden structure on the site where Margolis Brothers' store is now located, caught fire aad fired the drug store and one or two other buildings ? ! ?? ? For highest prices, sejl your tobacco on the Williamaton | 9 Toilet Articles 9 Hardware 9 Novelties 9 Jewelry 9 Candy ?I Few of the Thousands Of Items We Stock? 0 Klectrical Appliances 9 ^ riting Supplies 0 Kitchenware 0 Cosmetics 0 Lingerie 0 Hosiery 0 China 0 Toys sropf &o no mrm. In order to fiet the most for your money, which is vitally nttwwn ill these critical times, trade at ROSE'S, wrhere you will get the max imum in both quantity and quality. With our complete stock, there is no need to go further for outstanding bargains. The practice of trading in our store is a good one for you are always assured the best in service and merchandise. 8ACKto9CHO(H> svppues School bells will begin ringing within a few days. There are many items stieh as tablets, notebooks, pens, pencils, rulers, ink, and manv other items stieh as booksacks. ^ on ean get them here and for less monev. Let ns assist yon in outfitting your child for school. Sell Tobacco In Robersonville ;>-10-2:>< STORES ROBKRSONVILLE, N. C. I 1 5-10-25c STORES ROBERSONVILLE, N. C
The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.)
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Aug. 18, 1942, edition 1
40
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