Durham Fire of 1914

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Durham’s catastrophic fire, we revisit the tragic events that unfolded on this fateful day.

One century later, the details of that calamitous night have become clearer. The fire, which broke out at 10:30pm. in the second story of the Brodie L. Duke building,  was a turning point in Durham’s history. The iconic building, standing at an impressive five stories tall, was a symbol of prosperity and prominence. 

Reverend S.S. Brost, who stumbled upon the fire while walking home, acted swiftly, racing to the fire station to summon help. However, the situation became more dire as an unexpected issue emerged - the water supply. The fire hydrants were connected promptly, but to their dismay, the firefighters encountered a water pressure problem that prolonged the burning for an extended period.

Investigations into the water issue uncovered a startling revelation: the water main had indeed broken, resulting in a disrupted water flow to combat the flames. Firefighters were left helpless to fight the fire. The true extent of the damage unfolded as it became evident that the water pipe had broken not once but twice, exacerbating the fire’s wrath. The lack of a reliable backup system left firefighters and citizens grappling together with a relentless blaze that raged on for over six hours. 

With each passing hour, the fire exacted its toll. A heavy wind blew the flames across the street in the northwesterly direction, and great sparks and parts of burning roofs were dropped all around the entire section of town. Around 12:30am, another water main burst and the big high-pressure pump at Fire Station No. 2 on W Main St. had been stopped. The blaze moved eastward and several other large buildings connected to the Duke skyscraper were destroyed. Finally by 4:15a.m. the fire was under control, with it being completely put out around 5a.m.

Though the firemen valiantly fought the inferno, their heroic efforts could not prevent significant losses. Many businesses were burned down completely, including the post office, the Academy of Music, the drug store of Haywood & Boone on the corner of Main and Manfum and Blacknall’s drug store on the corner of Main and Corcoran were in flames. It is unknown exactly how many businesses were affected by the fire, but estimates suggest at least 15 businesses suffered major damage. The cost to repair the buildings exceeded one million dollars, and countless hardworking individuals were affected by the aftermath of the disaster.

There is no doubt that the scope of destruction was vast. Main Street, once a bustling thoroughfare, transformed into a desolate landscape of ashes and soot. At least 20 buildings were completely razed or severely damaged, as the fire swept across the entire blog between Mangum and Corcoran Streets.

The fire was indeed devastating to the city of Durham, but a big - and positive - change came from it. The original pump station pumped water from the Eno River down into the city; it is located in North Durham near what is now Cole Mill Road, specifically Pump Station Rd. Two years after the fire, the city voted to pass a bond to establish a city-owned water system to replace the private systems that had served the city since 1887. This new reservoir, Lake Michie, has allowed a lot more water for the growing city.