1911 Fire

Heart of Apex Swept by Fire

Apex, June 12. Awakened by the screaming of a locomotive whistle, the population of Apex turned out this morning at 1:30 o'clock to find the heart of the town in the grip of a destructive fire. From windows and doors flames belched forth, to be caught up by the wind and borne onward in their mad pursuit. Buildings yielded, reeled and fell into ruins while citizens stood by, helpless to check the flames with buckets of water, the only means at their disposal.

There were nine buildings totally destroyed, and the total loss by the fire is estimated from $50,000 to $60,000, while the insurance on the destroyed property was only $21,000. Of the nine buildings destroyed, eight were occupied by business enterprises, while one was the beautiful residence of Postmaster S. V. Hudson. Besides these, other buildings were damaged by the flames and much property was injured.

Origin of the Fire Unknown

The origin of the fire is unknown. It is supposed to have started in the room of Mr. J. W. Jenks, who ran a butcher shop in a building on the corner of Salem and Chatham streets, owned by Apex Land and Improvement Company. It is believed by some that the fire was started by matches ignited by rats, while others advance the theory that it was due to a cigar or cigarette stump. So far, there is no conclusive evidence of any means by which the fire might have started. Several representative citizens were questioned today as to the probability of the fire's having been started by an incendiary, but all stated that they did not believe there was any foul play connected with it. An investigation, however, will be made by the authorities.

Beyond Control When Discovered

The fire is supposed to have started about 1: 15 o'clock this morning and was beyond control when the citizens were awakened at 1:30 o'clock by the whistle of the engine of a Seaboard Airline train. The engineer, seeing the flames, blew the whistle long and loud in order to wake up the townspeople.

Citizens Turn Out With Buckets

When the citizenship turned out, a desperate effort was made to check the flames and all worked like Trojans with buckets of water, but this did little or no good. A phone message was sent to Raleigh, and Chief Lumsden made preparations to have the Raleigh fire department come out, but it was learned that there were no means of securing water with which to fight the fire. Chief Lumsden however, came to the scene in his automobile, reaching here about four o'clock.

Fire Spreads Rapidly

Consuming the frame building in which it originated, the fire swept on to Mr. B. H. Pate's building next door in which was located a barbershop; then to the Apex Bottling Works, and on to Mr. W. H. Harward's general store across the street. Mr. R. J. Bolling's grocery store was the next to catch, afterwards which the flames spread to Mr. V. Baucom's drugstore; then to the Merchants and Farmers Bank, which was a two story brick building. The vaults containing between five and six thousand dollars in cash were removed from the burning building and taken to the building of the

Apex Mule and Supply Company, where the bank resumed business today with Mr. J. R. Cunningham as cashier.

H. C. Olive Co.'s general mercantile store was the next to catch on fire, then Mr. S. V. Hudson's residence across the street. Mr. Hudson managed to save most of his furniture.

All these buildings were totally destroyed, while the fire injured several other buildings.

Summary of Loss in Buildings and Stock

When seen this afternoon, several of the leading citizens estimated the loss as being:

Building of Apex Land and Improvement Company - $2,500; $750 insurance.
B. H. Pate's building - $ 1,000; no insurance.
Apex Bottling Works - $ 1,000; no insurance.
W. H. Harward's general store -$15,000; $7,500 insurance.
R. J. Bolling's store - $1,500; $800 insurance.
A. V. Baucom's drug store - $8,000; $5,400 insurance.
Merchants and Farmers Bank insurance -$3,000; $1,400 insurance.
H. C. Olive Co.'s store - $7,500; $4,600 insurance.
S. V. Hudson's residence - $1,200; $800 insurance.

Other Damage by the Fire

Besides the above, there was considerable other damage done by the destructive fire. The stock of Pate and Co. was damaged to the extent of $1,750, while that of the Watkins Seymour Hardware Co. was damaged to the extent of $500. Mr. S. T. Bennett's stock was damaged about $1,900, the loss being covered by insurance.

The handsome two story brick building of Sellers and Mason was damaged to the extent of $1,000.

The library of Attorney Percy J. Olive was totally destroyed, the loss amounting to $1,500, there being about $750 insurance. The fixtures in the office of Drs. R. W. Johnson and J. C. Mann, valued at several hundred dollars, were destroyed the amount being half covered with insurance.

Mr. Percy J. Olive's automobile was burned, also the shed in which it was kept, the loss amounting to $800. The Seaboard Air Line water tank was also burned.

The Whole Town Threatened

For a time this morning it looked like the whole town was going to be swept away by flames, but the fire was gotten under control about four o'clock.

Three Injured Slightly

One remarkable fact is that no one was seriously injured during the conflagration. Three, however, were slightly injured by falling buckets and glass, these being Mr. Harvey McKee, Mr. Jessie Norris, and Rev. J. R. Edwards.

Town Records in Safe

The town records were kept in a safe in the store of H. C. Olive and Co., Mr. L. S. Olive being one of the commissioners. The safe was removed, but had not been opened this afternoon. In fact, there were numbers of safes strewn about the streets. Some of the stores destroyed were most up to date and carried big lines of goods, all of which were destroyed.

A Desolate Scene

This afternoon Salem Street presented a desolate scene, the destructive fire having dug a huge hole in the heart of the town. Groups of men stood here and there, discussing the town's loss. The street was strewn with remnants of burned fixtures and fragments of property that had been in the destroyed buildings. Few walls were left standing, as all the buildings except the bank building and that occupied by Baucom's drug store were of wood. Here and there the fire still burned while smoke rose from the ruins. In the street lay telephone wires, the poles having been burned down.

Will Rebuild Many Buildings

Undaunted by their loss, the businessmen of Apex will proceed at once, it is said, to rebuild the business section of the city. Many new and better buildings will be erected in the place of those destroyed by fire. The Merchants and Farmers Bank will at once erect a new building and ere long the town will again take on that progressive spirit which has marked it in the past.

A Progressive Town

With a population of about 1500 [sic] , situated in Wake County fifteen miles southwest of Raleigh, Apex is a wide awake place and very accessible, being on the main line of the Seaboard and the Durham and Southern. The town is full of progressive people and it is the commercial centre of the community with a great future before it. The location is ideal and the town gets its name from its location, being situated on an "apex" sure enough. It is high and has good drainage. No doubt the progressive citizens will get together in the near future and have a water supply constructed. One gentlemen said today "the loss was enough to build a modern water works for our town."

A Glimpse of New Apex

The representative of the News and Observer went this afternoon over the resident section of town. Everywhere were seen signs of progress. Situated in the resident section of town there is a modern brick graded school surrounded by dwelling houses of modern type. The town is well laid out and has many streets and ideal building lots. Truly there is a great future before Wake County's city of Apex.

Last updated: June 10, 2004

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Copyright 2008 by Michael J. Legeros