Disatrous Blaze Destroys Oxford Theater, Barber Shop, Cafe and Weenie Stand, Dec. 9, 1923

Disastrous Blaze in Oxford Theater. . . Entire Building, Valued at $50,000, Was Destroyed Late Saturday Night

Oxford, N.C., Dec. 8—Fire, which was discovered here about 11:30 o’clock tonight, completely destroyed the Casino Theatre Building.

The building, in addition to a colored moving picture show contained in a barber shop, café and weenie stand. Only the fact that a brick wall separated the building from the Granville warehouse prevented that building from being destroyed also. The damage is estimated at around $50,000, this amount covering both building and inside fixtures. It was not learned whether or not any insurance was carried on the building.

Chief of the Fire department J. Robert Wood and his entire force made a heroic fight to save the building but were handicapped by lack of sufficient water pressure, the water system of the town having recently undergone changes in an effort to better the situation.

The building, owned by John Young, was of wooden construction and ignited and burned almost with the rapidity of oil soaked waste.

At 1 o’clock Sunday morning the fire was entirely under control, it was stated by the fire department.

From page 2 of the Durham Morning Herald, Sunday, December 9, 1923