Guilford College's Power House Destroyed in Midnight Blaze, Dec. 1919

From The Guilfordian, Greensboro, N.C., Dec. 10, 1919

Power House Destroyed in Midnight Blaze. . . College Plunged in Darkness When Fire Wipes Out Central Lighting Plant. . . Boiler Only Slight Damaged, Able to Supply Heat to Girls’ Dormitories

On Thursday night fire destroyed the power plant of the college causing a damage estimated at about $3,000, partly covered by insurance.

The steam engine and dynamo are a total loss, but fortunately the brick wall between the boiler room and the engine room shielded the boiler from the intensest heat and with some slight repairs it has bene able to keep New Garden and Founder’s heated. Oil lamps have been supplied to the students, but it is hoped that arrangements may be speedily completed to bring an electric power line from Greensboro.

The fire was discovered by President Binford about 11:15 p.m. He had just returned home from a conference in Cox Hall regarding the proposed rally for Saturday night, when Mrs. Binford called his attention to what seemed like smoke from the coal piles. He hurried to the power house, where he found the northern end of the dynamo room a mass of flames. His cries roused Cox Hall, but the flames spread so rapidly in the oil-soaked wood that before the doors could be battered won the fire had burned through the roof and the interior was a veritable furnace. A light breeze from the south served to protect nearby buildings from flying sparks, yet it was thought better to conserve the inadequate water for their protection rather than to pour it on the mass of burning oil in a vain attempt to stop its ravages. The fiercest blaze was beside the engine, where three large tanks of oil stood. One of these exploded and threw blazing oil into a group of spectators; fortunately no one was injured.

The boiler, protected from the hottest part of the fire by a brick wall, suffered little, though the roof was burned above it.

Edgar T. Farlow, superintendent, was on the scene soon after the fire was discovered and by daybreak, under his direction, temporary repairs had been made and breakfast time found the dining room in Founder’s and New Garden comfortably heated. Man leaks developed, however, so that it was necessary to draw the fires and make further repairs. This was done so expeditiously that it caused the college almost no inconvenience.

The matter of lights has been more of a problem. Oil lamps were purchased, but seem a poor substitute for electricity. The three kilowatt generator of the Physics Department did valiant service on Friday evening in providing lights for the lecture in Memorial Hall. It also furnished light for the banquet on Saturday night and, barring accident, will probably be able to supply a limited amount of current for other college functions.

On account of the great scarcity of all electrical supplies, efforts looking toward immediate restoration of the power plant met with much discouragement. It has been hoped that connection could be made with the North Carolina Public Service Corporation. A line into the neighborhood has been projected for some months, but is not? Up on account of the impossibility of securing wire and transformers.