Fire Closes Ice-Making, Packing Plants of Catawba Creamery, Dec. 14, 1920

Fire of undetermined origin early this morning put the ice-making and packing plants of the Catawba Creamery Company out of commission, causing water damage to the butter making plant and the offices and entailed a loss estimated at between $20,000 and $30,000. The building and contents were covered by insurance. Manager W.J. Shuford announced before the fire had been entirely put out at 6 o’clock this morning that he would begin shipping his dressed poultry to other markets before noon, that workmen would be put on the job of repairing and that all departments would be in operation within a few days. The creamery will be the first to resume operation. The fire was discovered at 4:15 o’clock this morning in the center of the packing department. The cause of the blaze was hard to determine. A hard rain fell all yesterday and last night it was believed by firemen that water likely oozed through the roof, saturated a wire and caused a short circuit. This was merely conjecture, however, and there was no means of determining the exact cause. Owing to the presence of ammonia used in the manufacture of ice, the difficulty of fighting the fire was intensified, but the firemen waded right into the job and several streams of water were kept on the flames until they were under control an hour after the fire was discovered. It was daylight befor ethe fire was thoroughly out and during the forenoon vigilance was exercised to prevent a new start. Both motor trucks were kept on the job. A stiff wind blew the flames eastward and several times the residence of Mr. D.F. Cline, with 75 feet of the creamery, was endangered. The heavy rains made it difficult to ignite, however, and the firemen had this much to be thankful for. The Chero-Cola building, the second story of which is occupied by the Coast-Brand Overall Company, is immediately to the west of the creamery, but no damage was caused here. If investigation shows the ice machines not seriously damaged, the loss will be reduced to a minimum of $20,000, it was believed early today, and it was expected that the entire plant might be in operation within a few weeks. Certainly the creamery will be running in a few days. The poultry house in the rear of the creamery was not damaged. (From the front page of the Hickory Daily Record, Dec. 14, 1920)