The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1929-12-27
CHRISTMAS In
ELIZABETH CITY
WAS NOT SODRY

There was little to distinguish
Christmas day in Elizabeth City
from an ordinary Sunday, but
there was a hot time in the old
town on Christmas Eve night.
That old rhyme about "'twas the
night before Christians, etc" was
Completely discredited this year
zs never before.
The streets were thronged with
shoppers the day before Christmas.
And that night Never have there
been so many DRINKS on Main street
as there were on Tuesday night.
Staggering, jostling, shouting bois-
terously, down the street they pa.
raded. And these drunks and the
yokelry who amused themselves by
standing in front Of Woolworth'S
and throwing imitation snow upon
passing pedestrians, were about the
only persons who seemed to be en-
joyins themselves.
Elizabeth City had little of the
old time Christmas spirit this year.
There were but few firecrackers;
there was very little hornblowing;
there were no COW bells; there were
only a few lighted trees on the
streets; there was no snow. All in
all, it was a dull Christmas.
The only real excitement came
early Christmas morning, when the
building OH the corner of PoindeK-
ter street and Colonial Avenue
caught fire, presumably from gas
oline hot water heater in the back
of the Keystone Barber shop. The
building belongs to Mrs. Elizabeth
Wood, who lives near Elizabeth
City on the Peartree Road, and
was occupied by T. w. Williams g.
Son, keystone Barber Shop, Poin-
dexter Street Barber Shop, and
Gosdon's Shoe Repair Shop. DAM
age from fire and water amounted
to from $4,000 to $4,000. .
The alarm was sent in at ITO
A. NJ, just as the last of the merry
makers were vending their way
home, the merchants counting their
receipts, and fathers and mothers
were playing Santa Claus. Hun
dreds gathered to witness the fire.
which had no competition for eAA
citement. =
The temperature was down to "a
degrees, and water froze a minute
after it hit the building. One lad
der broke, throwing Fireman Gualu
to the sidewalk. A sailor, who was
assisting the firemen, started up a
ladder with a hose, lost control Of
the nozzle when the pressure was
turned on. fell of the ladder. Mr..
williams removed most Of the stock
from his store, piled it in the street,
later saw it washed away and ruin
ed by eddies of water. His loss was
from $4,000 to $4,000
Starting in the back of the build
ing. the fire swept upstairs and
broke thru the roof in a spectacular
burst of flame. So fierce were the
flames and so intense was the heat
that firemen thought the side wall
of the building was going to collapse
at any minute. Its collapse was
prevented by it being kept wet.
The fire lasted until four thirty
o'clock and was one Of the biggest
fires of the year. Guy Brockett
was in charge of the fire fighters
in the absence of Chief Flora, who
was in Knoxville, Tenn. Chief
Flora was given report of the fire
over the telephone, congratulated
the firemen, wished them a Merry
Christmas.
But Twas no such a Merry Christ.
mas for the firemcn. They didn't
get to bed until almost daybreak
Christmas morning, slept until after
noon, woke up with headaches and
bad colds. Spectators, too, slept
late. There were few persons STIR
ring about town Christmas morning
except the throng of poor kiddies
who flocked to the Elk's community
Christmas tree to get toys.
No accidents were reported over
the holidays. 1t was safe and sane
if not so sober, Christmas. A few
crapshooters and drunks were picked
up by the police, but all was quiet
otherwise. Elizabeth City fully liv-
ed UP TO the first phrase of the line
Peace on earth, good will toward
men"