1883 Lynchburg fire

[tat2guy]

As some have suggested, the BP's was to aide some of those who suffered loses in the fire. Also the ads that were run in the Lynchburg Virginian indicate 2 names, Watts and Coomes. Who were these people? I've seen an 1880 census with the watts family but who was the Coomes reference? Richard greaves shows info on the Watts family. Does anyone know about the other family? What did the lose in the fire? Did they lose any family? Is there a list of the dead? How did the fire start?

HH Jay

 

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[bigscoop]

Now you're onto the strongest "fiction" theory, and it is a very strong theory, indeed. If I remember correctly, the Watts family suffered huge losses with not enough insurance to cover near the loss, but that's all I can recall. Maybe Reb & Franklin have more of the details.

 

[bigscoop]

"Watts & Coomes"......anyone?

 

[Rebel - KGC]

Go to the "Morris Norvell Thread" Posted by Rebel yesterday in post number 28 is the webpage about the Lynchburg Fire. you will have to go to page 20. There were five firemen killed when the wall of the Virginian Printing fell on them.

YEP!

 

[bigscoop]

Again, bigscoop go to the same website to Page 28 There it will tell you that in the Census of 1880 they were two young apprenctices. Joseph R. Coomes was a 9 year old son of a grocer in the 1880 Census.

I figured you locals would have the entire scoop/history on their families and businesses as well.

 

[Rebel - KGC]

I figured you locals would have the entire scoop/history on their families and businesses as well.

Pretty much well documented (1883 fire), yeah... there IS a book for "mass market" about businesses, ppl and "pics" of Lynchburg, Va. 1885, I think... ALSO one for Bedford, Va,; will look for titles. They MAY be "on-line".

 

[bigscoop]

Never mind. Was just looking for a bit more detail.

 

[Rebel - KGC]

Never mind. Was just looking for a bit more detail.

It IS in the BP, that the REST of the copies were destroyed by fire... they WERE! After 1885... according to "word of mouth" and SOME written source; unsold copies were "fed" into a pot-belly stove to keep "heat"/warmth going; where...? DUNNO! LOL!