Thornton Grocery Company Gutted by Fire, Feb. 27, 1926

Costly Fire Sweeps Store in Heart of City. . . R.I. Thornton Wholesale Grocery Company on North James Street Gutted Thursday Morning by Blaze of Undetermined Origin—Stock of Goods Worth $10,000 Practically Ruined; Temporary Quarters Will be Secured

Fire of undetermined origin and which was discovered about 5:30 o’clock Thursday morning practically gutted the interior of the R.I Thornton Wholesale Grocery Company’s store, No. 104 North James street, and entailed a loss of between $8,000 and $9,000 to a stock of goods valued at about $10,000, and also damaged the building to a considerable extent.

The alarm was turned in by the watchman of the Wayne National Bank who stated that he had smelled the odor of burning hay for more than two hours previous to his discovery of the blaze and had made a vain attempt to locate the source. Taking this statement into consideration, it is believed that the blaze had been under way for several hours previous to its outbreak. It was apparent that it had originated in a shipment of hay about midway the second floor.

Prompt Response

Firemen lost no time in answering the alarm and arrive don the scene a few minutes later, finding the structure a mass of flames. It was necessary to throw thousands of gallons of water on the blaze in order to bring it under control and to save the building from complete destruction, also to protect other property in that neighborhood.

When the fire had finally been gotten under control, the interior of the store presented a sorry sight. Fire, smoke and water had played havoc but the work of the firemen had won, and the building stood intact though badly damaged. Practically the entire stock, however, was a total loss. All of the office equipment, records, etc., were saved from ruin.

Temporary Quarters

Officials of the company informed The News later in the day that arrangement were to be made immediately to secure temporary quarters and a new stock of goods, and that they hoped to be able to attend to their customers’ needs within a few days. In the meantime, the damaged goods are to be removed from the fire-swept building and carpenters are to at once start the work of making repairs. The company hopes to be back in their own home within in the course of a few weeks.

From the front page of The Goldsboro News, Friday morning, Feb. 26, 1926

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