N&W and Virginian in 1909--Norfolk fire

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Bluefield Daily Telegraph
October 15, 1909

NORFOLK HAS $50,000 [sic]FIRE YESTERDAY
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Norfolk & Western Passenger Depot Destroyed at Early Hour Origin Undetermined
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WILL BE REPLACED BY EIGHT STORY UNION DEPOT
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New Structure Will Be Erected by The Norfolk and Western, Virginian and Southern [sic] Railways Jointly
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FREIGHT WARE HOUSE CATCHES THREE TIMES
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    Norfolk, Va., Oct. 14--Entailing a total loss of probably $150,000 [sic] the Norfolk and Western passenger depot was destroyed by fire this morning together with its long train shed, freight, baggage and express rooms, the quarters of the office force and a score or more of freight and shuttle cars.
    The origin of the fire is undetermined.  A freight warehouse nearby took fire three times, but was saved.  The burned depot will be replaced by an eight story union depot and office buildings to be erected by the Norfolk and Western, Virginian and Norfolk and Southern [sic] Railways jointly.
    The blaze was discovered about 1:15 o'clock and though the Fire Department responded promptly, the flames were not under control for over an hour.
    The fire originated in a room over the express office which is in the annex and before the firemen arrived the northern end of the building was blazing furiously.
    Many coaches and empty box cars on nearby switches also added fuel to the flames and two gondolas loaded with coal were for a time threatened with a like fate but were saved by the firemen.
    Many cars were pulled to places of safety by a shifting engine, the crew of which did valiant service in removing possible fuel for the flames from the danger zone.
    Several high power electric wires were severed and added to the peril of the firemen until the current was cut off.
    Part of the burned building was constructed of brick and the annex was merely a housed-in one story shed.
    Several offices were located in the burned structure and valuable records they contained were destroyed.
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Gordon Hamilton
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