1907 - Big Blaze at Christiansburg

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Roanoke Times - June 28, 1907

BIG BLAZE AT CHRISTIANSBURG

Town Suffers $50,000 Fire - The Losers Had But Little Insurance

Christiansburg, Va., June 27. -- Special -- One of the worst fires 
Christiansburg has ever known started here last night at 11 o'clock.
   At first, the whole town seemed to be doomed.
   The fire started in a large foundry owned by Aaron Graham. A stiff 
breeze blew the flames across the street, catching the house of 
Maggie Taylor, a respectable old colored woman. By heroic efforts the 
fire was stopped before reaching the next building. Had this not been 
the case the fire would have reached Main street, and it would have 
been well nigh impossible to stop it.
   Next to the foundry, somewhat back, Childress' stables caught, 
then Childress and Ellis' new store. All of these buildings burned to 
the ground. Stuart's repair shop, on the opposite side of the street, 
also burned down.
   An engine was telegraphed for, to Roanoke, but before it reached 
here, Graham's lumber yard and all of it above mentioned buildings 
had gone, and the fire was under control, although the engine reached 
here in time to save some lumber which had caught.
   Men and women worked with untiring energy and the colored people 
assisted with the might and main. The fire was not under control 
until 3 o'clock, the engine reaching here from Roanoke a few minutes after.
   The lose to Mr. Graham was very heavy, as he had no insurance. 
None of the Childress and Dillard's horses were hurt. The buildings 
were all situated on and near Depot street, in the south side of the town.
   No citizens, regardless of color or sex, could have worked with 
greater bravery than did those of Christiansburg, and the town feels 
proud of her citizens.
   The fire swept district aggregates several acres, and is a 
desolate sight today. Large numbers of people from the country as 
well as from the town, are viewing the gruesome spectacle and 
expressing sympathy and offering aid to the stricken ones.
   No plans have been outlined by the losers in this conflagration, 
but it is believed that the burned district will soon be rebuilt by 
even more expensive and safer structures.
   The following is a list of the property destroyed and the loss:
   Graham's foundry, one residence owned by him next to the foundry 
and lumber yard, 3,000 feet of lumber and all machinery from the 
foundry; total loss estimated at $17,000; no insurance carried.
   Residence and contents owned by Margaret Taylor, color, destroyed; 
loss, $1,000.
   Grocery store and contents, office and contents.
   Livery and feed stable owned by James Childress destroyed; total 
loss, $12,000; insurance carried, $5,000.
   Wagon repair shop owned by Stuart; loss, $1,000.
   The work done by men, women and children was heroic, untiring and 
masterful. No one hesitated, and from 11 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. when the 
fire engine arrived from Roanoke, all ages and sexes handed water, 
carried out furniture, pulled wagons of same in place of horses, and 
saved the town. Much damage was done by breakage, water, and pillage, 
of which latter, however, there was very little.
   Mr. James Childress was the only one who carried insurance, and he 
had only obtained the policy two days before the fire.
   The foundry was near the Miller livery stable. All horses were 
turned out and driven up town away from danger.
   No lives were lost, no serious injuries sustained, and all stock 
made secure.

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- Ron Davis, Roger Link