1/15/2014 0 Comments Behind a photograph, report 1City Officials & Raleigh Fire Dept. circa 1917, Click the image to expand There is so much that can be said about an old photograph of Raleigh. The goal of this site is to offer reporting on these images. If you have an image or an account you would like to share, feel free to shoot me an email from the contact page. Mike Legeros, of the Raleigh Fire Dept. has done an excellent job researching this image. This panoramic photograph was taken to commemorate the delivery of their latest fire engine, American LaFrance sent a photographer from New York to take this picture. Shown against the backdrop of Fayetteville Street is the entire fire department and several City officials. According to a past Raleigh Fire Dept. Chief, this photograph became an iconic image for the RFD and was staged retaken multiple times over the span of the next 75 years. The engine in the middle of the shot was a spring loaded ladder truck. A firefighter had to hold onto the back end of the ladder as it sprang into the air. Several of the buildings that were captured in this photograph burned down in less than 15 years after this picture was taken. 1905 Le Franc Steam Engine See this antique 1905 Le Franc steam engine at Station 28. This museum houses several other fire engines. Click here for more info City Auditorium & Municipal Building Both buildings--which appear to be as one--were built in 1911, by Thorton Mayre. All of his buildings have been demolished except for the Ruffin Building, seen here. The auditorium faced Fayetteville St. and the Municipal building faced Davie Street. N.C. State played several basketball games in the auditorium. In 1930 the auditorium burned down. Unfortunately Raleigh lost many city records, including the deeds to the City Cemetery and Mount Hope Cemetery. The city chose to rebuild the auditorium at the end of Fayetteville St. What we know as Raleigh Memorial was originally the War Memorial Auditorium. A fire Station was built on the back end of the auditorium. Unfortunately the spring loaded truck didn't fit. Goodnight Raleigh's Karl Larson provided much of this information. The Yarborough Hotel Just two years prior to the auditorium burning down, Raleigh lost yet another iconic structure that can be seen in this panoramic above. The Yarborough was one of Raleigh's landmark hotel and social centers, with 150 rooms and 125 baths. Charlie Chaplin, William Jennings Bryan (Scopes trial), Helen Keller and even President Howard Taft stayed there. In 1923 a new hotel emerged and began taking the spot light--The Sir Walter, also seen in background of the panoramic. The Yarborough met its fate in 1928; a fire began in the elevator shaft, spread throughout the wood framed building. It was a nightmare to put out, and The News & Observer has done an excellent story on this fire that you can read here. Not Seen in iMage: Sir Walter The Sir Walter is known as Raleigh's oldest surviving hotel (built between the years of 1923-24). The Sir Walter grew in the same fashion as the Yarborough and began offering steady competition. I chose to add the Sir Walter because it was the Sir Walter that began competing with the Yarborough, grasping the interest of visitors. Some stayed loyal to the Yarborough, but many moved to staying at the Sir Walter. Want to see what the Sir Walter looked like inside? Click here. Want to read more about the building? Click here.
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Matt Busch, Author
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