Fire Destroys Wagger Clothing Company, Feb. 6, 1925

Disastrous Fire in Wagger Store. . . Fire Sunday Morning Caused Damage of Thousands—Loss Fully Covered

Fire though to have originated from a cigarette or cigar stub thrown among some waste paper under a table in the rear of the store caused damage to the stock of the Wagger Clothing Company in the Lewis building on the south side of Depot street, in Asheboro, early Sunday morning amounting to approximately $15,000, and damage to the building of probably $2,000.

The fire was discovered Sunday morning about 3 o’clock by Robert Bunch and Pearl Osborne who saw smoke issuing from the store building. Mr. Osborne immediately went upstairs in the building and waked up Mr. Wagger and Mr. Morgan, who roomed above the store, while Mr. Bunch turned in the alarm. The fire was by that time burning briskly. The fire department immediately responded and was on the job in a remarkably quick time considering the hour of the alarm.

The blaze evidently from the condition of the part damaged started under the work table about six or eight feet in front of the stove in the back part of the store. At this point a quantity of large envelopes for wrapping hats were stacked. A hole about three feet square was burned at this place. The fire then spread to clothing and shoe counters and racks and on toward the ceiling.

Water used in extinguishing the blaze caused quite a lot of damage, although a number of racks of clothing and shelves of goods were burned.

The stock of goods in the store at the time is estimated as being worth from $30,000 to $35,000, with $23,000 insurance on the stock and $500 on the fixtures. Mr. Wagger was in the midst of a large sale which was started last Friday and had quite a large stock of goods on hand.

The Wagger Clothing Company, owned by I.D. Wagger and Sarah Wagger, had been in operation in Asheboro for about six years and has been doing a good business. Mr. Wagger came to Asheboro from Randleman where he had been in the mercantile business a short time. He at one time for several years operated a store at Ramseur.

From the front page of the Asheboro Courier, Feb. 5, 1925

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