There were two huge fires in Virginia that destroyed the town in 1893 and 1900. No one was killed because the fire moved so slowly. In 1893, in forty minutes the whole town was gone.

After the second fire, Chestnut (Main) Street buildings were made out of brick.

After the fire, everybody sat on Chestnut Street and watched the ashes smolder. Everyone lost all of their belongings. Soon the whole town was rebuilt with lumber. They also saved most of the animals. The fire fighters lived at the fire station. Even that burned!