History
10
The Great Fire of 1907, one of the worst disasters in Beaufort's history, began at this site on Jan. 19 around 1:30 p.m. in F.W. Scheper's barn south of here and moved into a large store at this corner. The fire spread west along Bay Street, while strong winds scattered embers over much of downtown. Flames also moved up Carteret Street and to the northeast, burning buildings as far as 1/2 mi. from this location. Companies of black and white volunteer firemen struggled to extinguish the blaze, but their equipment was overpowered. By the time the fire subsided, at least forty buildings had been damaged or destroyed. The disaster led to new local ordinances governing the materials and location of new buildings. Despite the destruction, the only death occurred when William Bennett, a member of the African American Allen Brass Band, was shot by a soldier on patrol.
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Port Royal, South Carolina · United States
