From Bent Twigs in Jefferson County, by the inestimable late County Historian, Jean Patterson Bible. Transcribed by the incomparable Doris Kinser Fountain.
The Dandridge Fire of 1911 Seen Through the Eyes of One Who Watched It
(pp. 156-157)
Most of us have grown so accustomed to an excellent volunteer department on call with modern equipment, it is hard to realize that in Dandridge in 1911 and even much later, all the citizens had to fight fire with the water brigade. The following letter was written by Alex Hynds, a lifelong resident of Dandridge, dated February 11, 1911, to his cousin, Lent Hynds, of Martin, Tennessee. In it he describes his reaction to the fire as he watched its progress through the town from his home, the old Hynds House, in the center of the business section of town.
Written on stationery of Law Offices of Park, Hynds & Park, Collections Receive Special Attention, Dandridge, Tenn., February 11, 1911.
Dear Lent,
I've been trying for some days to find time to drop you a line at least about our big fire here at 3:30 A.M., Monday, January 23, but it broke us all up so and for many things have come to me that I'm not eve (?) this letter (?) able to get caught up.
I wrote your uncle Robert's family a line and you may have heard of our loss. The fire started in the big brick on the corner above me and burst until it got down to our house, six buildings in all, causing loss of $40 - $50,000 with only $15,000 insurance and that on the big brick and foods in it.
When I first saw it I'm sure a small stream would have put it all out in less then 5 minutes, but we have only buckets to fight it with here and soon it ate its way on down to our little store house 35 feet away from the house, and for a good while it looked as if there was no hope at all for us, but by the heroic efforts of our friends, white and black, thank God we have a home yet, in our old apartment _____, they got on the roof, kept wet things on it, carpets, rugs, bed clothes, etc, and the end of the house soaked with water, so there was not even a spark on it.
The house was badly damaged from water, broken windows, doors, etc, a good many things broken, furniture, dishes, and besides a big hole in the roof, but it yet stands to the wonder of all of us. The damage to the contents will amount to $200, maybe, or a little less.
Our friends here were very good indeed to us the 2 or 3 days we were out of it. We've been doing something every day since to it and have only got part done now, tho' we are all at home again now. It was a fearful time on us and we expected to be down with fever and colds, but are all on foot so far.
It's put me back a good deal and I'm hard up as yet, but hope to be all o.k. in time again. My books were damaged some by mud and rain, a few only tho.
I will not get to Nashville now at all, I fear, but hope Charlie will get through all o.k., indeed, I do not expect I could help him any if I were on the grounds there. Do you think you will get to Head Camp at C. on March 14th? I can hardly say as yet as to myself, lest if try off (?).
It's begun to snow up here at 4 p.m. today and is coming down rather hard just now tho wet some, too.
I must close as my fire is gone out and I must get down to the house for night work. All join me in best love to all __ you out it. I do not know of any special family news to write, all my kinfolks have left Nashville in Atlanta again.
Write me when you can.
Your Cousin, Alex. Hynds.
