October program: A history of fires and firefighting in Davidson
Did you know that Main Street in downtown Davidson burned twice in the early 20th century? Or that Davidson College's main building burned to the ground in 1921? Those fires changed the face of Davidson and how we build. We take a look at those events and more in our next Davidson Historical Society program, "A History of Fires and Firefighting in Davidson," on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
The free program is at 4pm at Davidson Town Hall, 251 South St.
These are blazes that people talked about for decades - and still talk about, including:
The 1901 and 1906 fires that destroyed many buildings on Main Street
The night in 1921 when Davidson's College's main building, the Chambers Building, burned to the ground, threatening the college's future.
The loss of the Davidson School on South Street in 1946.
The 1950 fire off Main Street that destroyed a row of substandard houses occupied by Black residents.
The 1954 blaze that gutted the old movie theater on Main Street.
After our historical review, Davidson Fire Department chief Ryan Monteith will talk about how firefighting has changed over the past century.
"Historical markers in the sidewalk on Main Street talk about these fires," said historical society President David Boraks. "This program will tell the rest of the story."
The program is the second in our series of fall 2026 programs. Still to come:
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, 4pm, Ada Jenkins Center, 212 Gamble St., Davidson - Davidson Historical Society "Ada Jenkins' Life & Legacy," a panel discussion about Davidson schoolteacher and community leader Ada Jenkins and the school and community services center that bears her name today. Free. RSVP at https://www.davidsonhistoricalsociety.org/event-details/who-was-ada-jenkins
Davidson Historical Society is a nonprofit organization that promotes understanding and appreciation of the history of Davidson and the surrounding area. For more information, or to become a member, visit DavidsonHistoricalSociety.org
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