The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-28
BIG FIRE MAKES LARGER
QUARTERS FOR THIS BANK
Savings Bank & Trust Co. to Make Over Burned
Structure Into Office Building, Reserving
Entire First Floor For Bank

The cutting of the imposing
three story building occupied by
the S. R. Stiff Co. and the Saw
ings Bank & Trust Co. on the
corner of Main and Poindexter
streets, by fire OF unknown
origin Sunday morning, will
postpone the opening of the new
quarters of the bank for at least
SIN months and will mean en-
tlrely new plans for the build
ing. The Savings Bank & Trust
90. plans now to occupy the en-
tire first floor and make the 11p-
per floors over into Offices with
electric elevator service.
The building was erected by E. f.
Aydlett about ten years ago and was
one of the most handsome store build
ings in the state. 1t was originally
valued at about $4,000 and was sold
In the fall of 1919 to the Savings Bank
q Trust Co. for $45, 900. The building
at that time was occupied solely by S.
H. SlH Co., clothiers and furnishers.
The bank sublet an arcade entrance on
the first floor and the two upper floors
to the Siff Co. and had reserved for it.
self imposing quarters on the ground
floor paralelling Main street The
Danks new quarters were rapidly near
ing completion when the fire Sunday
morning wrecked the building, carrying
away the second floor and the roof. A
metal ceiling in the bank is supposed to
have checked the fire and saved the
banking room from utter destruction.
Thousands of dollars worth of new fix
lures were damaged only by water.
The fire caught somewhere in the vi
cinlty of the elevator shaft in the store
OF ). II Slf Co, eitLer "ll the first OF
second floor and spread through the
shaft to both upper doors The FIRE
caught at 4:1J a. IN. and the fire. de-
partment was promptly on the scene
with every piece of apparatus; but so
1nt1ammable were the contents of the
building and the interior of the build
ing itself; and so inaccessible was the
flame that the fremen could make little
progress at the start Not euuipped
with an aerial truck, the fremen could
not get Immediately to the flames with
their lines of hose. But they did vail
ant and intelligent work in spite of
their handicaps and kept the frightful
blaze confined to the upper floors of the
building.
J. Upsets Siff Co. Plans
The fire had a demoralizing effect
upon plans of the S. r. Siff Co Mr.
Siff had 1ust made an agreement witt
r. e. Lewis, by which Mr.. Lewis was
to have acquired third interest in the
business, investing therein about S1O.-
O00 With Mr.. Lewis and new capital,
the S. R. Sif Co. planned to extend
their business here and open a branch
store in Rocky Mount A store had
been rented in Rocky Mount. Mr.. Siff
says that the company will carry out
its plans in Rocky Mount and will get
new location in Elizabeth City, since
they cannot go back to their old stand
, Mr.. Siff has several locations in mind,
one of which contemplates the taking
over of an already established business
| on Main street.
The Savings Bank & Trust Co. fig
ures it's loss around $4,000 and car
ried $35, 900 insurance on the building.
! The new banking fixtures were fully
| covered by insurance. S. r. Sif Co
valued their stock at $4,000 and car
ried full insurance. Several thousand
dollars worth of stock was recovered
from the building, but it was damaged
by water and can be sold only at a loss.
The salvaged goods have been removed
to Scott & Twiddy's old stand in the
Hinton Building, and will be put on
sale when the insurance adjusters have
finished their appraisement.