Old Saw Mill of Simm Lumber Co. Destroyed; Electrical Fire on Nash Street, June 10, 1924

W.W. Simms Company Saw Mill Destroyed by Blaze

Fire destroyed the old saw mill of the W.W. Simm Lumber Company early this morning, the building being burned to the ground before an alarm was sounded. The building and its contents was valued at $1,500, which was a complete loss as no insurance was carried.

The blaze was discovered by the night watchman at the Williams Lumber Company about 3:15 o’clock, who called out the fire department. The room of the building had fallen in and the entire building was enveloped in flames by the time the trucks arrived on the scene, and the firemen were helpless as to saving the building or its contents.

No machinery was in the building, having been removed about a year ago to a new location, but a considerable amount of lumber was stored in the building and sheds. The flames, fanned by a slight breeze, gained rapid headway.

Blaze Saturday Night

Negro residents of East Nash street became alarmed Saturday night about 9 o’clock when a “cut out” on a light pole short circuited and caught fire, causing considerable excitement. The fire department was called out and the blaze extinguished by a workman of the city electrical department. No damage was done.

From the front page of the Wilson Times, June 10, 1924

A cutout is like a fuse. When there’s a problem on the line, it opens. If it fails, like the one on East Nash Street, a fire can occur. If you’re curious about what you can find on a current electric power pole, American Electric Power has an illustration with simple explanations showing the various parts at www.aep.com/assets/docs/safety/What's%20on%20Pole_AEP.pdf

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