The Great Atlanta Fire of 1917 is over, but the struggle to rebuild has just begun. Atlantans are slowly beginning to comprehend the devastation. Over 300 acres and 1,938 buildings were destroyed. Property loss amounted to $5,500,000 (over $92,000,000 today). A little over half of the damage was covered by insurance. Almost 80 percent of the buildings lost had wood shingles. The fires will continue to smolder the rest of the week. Miraculously, only ten injuries were reported and no lives were lost in the fire.
This concludes the Great Atlanta Fire of 1917 Live Blog Event. We hope you have enjoyed this experience. This event was edited by Trevor Beemon, Manager of Digital Communications at the Atlanta History Center. All of the images and audio clips included in this event are courtesy of the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. Special thanks to Sue VerHoef, Archivist; Paige Adair, Manager of Reprographic Services; Heather Thayer Culligan, Collections Manager; and Melanie Stephan, Senior Archivist, for their help and support. Tune in May 23rd when guest blogger Sue VerHoef will address your questions about the fire, and explain the impact it had on our city.
Homer Nash reflects on the fire.
“As far as the eye could see was nothing but a sea of gaunt chimneys and smoking piles of brick. It looked like a desert with exception of the chimneys and here and there a charred stump of a tree or a telephone pole together with tangled wires…”
-William B. Hartsfield
Stella Smith describes seeing her neighborhood after the fire.
7:00 AM
Throughout the night, support has arrived from fire departments in Greenville, SC; Knoxville, TN; Athens, GA; Jacksonville, FL; and Nashville, TN.
12:00 AM
A fire breaks out at the Atlanta Machine Works on East Hunter Street. The Augusta and Rome Fire Departments quickly put the fire out. All fires are under control.
10:00 PM
The fire is finally contained.
9:23 PM
A grease fire is reported at a restaurant near Washington and Hunter Streets. The Rome and Augusta Fire Departments respond to this fire and quickly put it out.
9:15 PM
A special train on the Georgia Railroad arrives with the Augusta Fire Department. They were sent to battle a fire at Washington Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue.
9:00 PM
The Chattanooga Fire Department arrives as well as an engine from the Macon Fire Department.
8:30 PM
The Rome Fire Department arrives to battle a fire at West Mitchell and Magnum Streets.
8:00 PM
The Gainesville Fire Department arrives to help battle the fire.
E.B. Baynes describes his home after the fire.
6:45 PM
Firemen are finally able to stop the fire from spreading northward.
6:16 PM
Homes on Hunt Street, North Jackson Street, Randolph Street, and Kennesaw Avenue are dynamited.
