Piedmont, WV Hotel Fire, May 1909

LARGE FIRE IN PIEDMONT, W. VA.

The national Hotel Destroyed This Morning.

THE LOSS ABOUT $10,000.

Firemen Fought Bravely and Succeeded in Saving Adjoining Property. Building Was Owned by Dr. T. A. Cross.

Piedmont, W. Va., May 13. Special to the Times.

Fire broke out this morning at 3:30 o’clock in the National Hotel, corner of Main street and Childs avenue, completely gutting the building and entailing a loss of $10,000, partly covered by insurance to the amount of $1,500. in L. E. Heskitt agency.

The lower floor was used for a nickelodeon, bowling alley, and barber shop, and was owned by Dr. T. A. Cross. Despite the efforts of the Tri-Towns Fire Department, the building was totally destroyed, but adjoining property was saved.. At 4:30 the fire was extinguished.

The fire is supposed to have originated in a bed room on the second floor, and the sleeping inmates were aroused by the bursting flames and smoke and several made narrow escapes. The fire occurred right in the heart of the business section of Piedmont, and great uneasiness was felt, when the fire began to spread throughout the building. The building had only been recently constructed. It will be rebuilt.

Evening Times, Cumberland, MD 13 May 1909
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Transcribed by Audrey. Thank you, Audrey!