Newspapers / The Franklin Times (Louisburg, … / Jan. 30, 1964, edition 1 / Page 1
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Weather Increasing cloudiness and warm today. Ocasslonal rain and rather cool Friday. Low to day, 25; high, 55. The FpsdIIMd Times ? ?? - , <&[ A e A" A/ r t i ? r Published Every Tuesday & Thursday Serving All Of Franklin County Chuckle "In time of trial," boomed the visiting pastor, "what brings us the greatest com fort?" From the rear of the church came the answer: "An acquit tal." T?l. GY 6-3283 Five Cents Louisburg, N. C-. Thursday. January 30. 1964 (Six Pages Today) 94th Year? Number 98 One of the most disastrous fires in Lou isburg's history leveled Ford's Southside Warehouse, Bunn's Grocery, Weaver's Clothing and the old abandoned Cooper's Gin here early Wednesday morning. The fire, discovered shortly after mid nightby Police Patrolman Earl Tharrington raged out of control for nearly two hours and posed a serious threat to the entire southside of town. All available fire appa ratus in the Town ofLouisburg was thrown into service to combat the blaze along with units from Franklinton, Epsom, Ceinter ville, Justice and Bunn. Louisburg Fire Chief W. J. ( Pete) Shearin said that a favorable wind plus timely and efficient assistance by the out-of-town de partments probably pr e vented .spread of the fire throughout the entire south side of town. While the- wind aided in preventing spread of the flames north and east into a row of buildings and the highly flammable Franklin j Milling Co., facilities and Allen Oil fuel storage tanks, it carried flaming debris as far as three blocks away setting numerous grass fires and ignited at least two houses, but these were quickly controlled by the assisting rural firemen. All told, six buildings were destroyed by the fire including the sprawling Southside tobacco warehouse, Louisburg's largest. Total damage estimates were not available, but Charlie Ford, owner of the warehouse, in which the fire originated, said damage to it alone would amount to well over $100,000. The fire burned a primary electrical. feeder line and two 200 pair telephone cables into knocking out electric and tele phone service over the entire southern section of Loulsburg for upwards to six hours. It was near noon Wednesday before , street crews, using a bulldozer and several, large trucks could clear the debris and re open South Main Street to traffic. In addition to the six structures, a 1962 automobile, a tractor and a model A Ford, parked in the warehouse, were destroyed. Adding to their miseries was the tem perature, which fell well below the 20 de gree m ark during the early morning, caus ing ice to form on the streets and coats of the firemen. Smoke and flames from the blaze were seen from as far as fifteen m iles away on the clear, brightly moonlit night. The Louisburg Rescue Service', always on the scene at every disaster , aided by hand ling communications, rushing additional hose and fittings to fresh emergency points and served steaming hot coffee to the half frozen firemen. Chief Shearin said that it looked as if the whole south side of town was going at one point as he praised the efforts of the area firemen and Louisburg College students, w-ho pitched' in the battle: There were no injuries reported, but so fierce was the battle at one point that a hose cover on top of the town's new Ford pumper caught fire and the paint on one side of the truck was scorched slightly. - Other Fire Stories and Photos on Page 8 FLAMES TOWER SKYWARD 4 Brilliant "flames from Wednesday morning's dis asterous southside fire turn an "otherwise black sky into an orange and yellow glow that coula'be seen almost 15 miles away. Photo above was taken from- Depot Hill looking south within Just a few minutes after the first alarm was turned in. See other fire photos on page 8.
The Franklin Times (Louisburg, N.C.)
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Jan. 30, 1964, edition 1
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