Saturday Spotting - Unexplained Oklahoma Fires

Published in July of 1922 in the Jonesboro Daily Tribune out of Jonesboro, Arkansas
located this article on Genealogybank.com 

MYSTERY FIRES IN OKLAHOMA HOMES

United Press:

     Norman, Okla., August 16 – Oklahoma’s greatest mystery is as yet unsolved.

     Twelve fires recently broke out in the home of J. L. Waggoner, farmer, living two miles in the country. Window curtains went up in smoke. Bed clothing became mysteriously ignited. Holes were burned in rugs and to cap the climax, a wet rag hanging in the kitchen of the house was consumed as so much excelsior.

     Origin of the blazes has never been determined. Occupants took the first few blazes as a matter of fact, but on the second day, following a night of fighting fires on the roof of the house, in clothes closets and under beds, the blazes were reported to county authorities.

     A guard of heavily armed deputy sheriffs were deployed around the house and kept there for three days. No more fires occurred.

     During the two days of fires, and since, Waggoner refused to move his family from the house, in spite of recommendations of friends and authorities.

     Theories that enemies of the family were trying to burn his home were scoffed at by Waggoner, “If any member of my family ever had an enemy, I do not know about it,” he said.

     Dr. I. H. Godlove, instructor in chemistry at the State University here, declared the fires were not started by chemicals, as was first generally believed.

     The house,  a two-story square frame building, setting back from the road, and in a permanent shadow from surrounding and overthrowing trees, for the past half century has had the reputation among natives as being “haunted.”

     The building was unoccupied or many years, prior to the moving in by the Waggoner family. Waggoner’s corn field was mysterious burned shortly after he moved to the house. Two years later the family awoke to find their barn in ruins, the last flames dying down. 

House Fire Takes Everything

     I had my post all ready for today but thought after yesterday I should change the subject. Actually I was in the middle of checking it to make sure everything was ready when I heard the sirens.  I live in a small neighborhood of around 25-30 homes, in a country setting out of the city. So when you hear sirens you know it’s coming into your neighborhood.  I went out the front of our house to see fire trucks and an ambulance driving by; my heart started thumping fast with fear and concern. I walk down the first step and look in the direction the vehicles were traveling and my heart sank. I saw a house with smoke coming out of the roof then realized I knew the family that lived in that house, their son and our son are very close friends.

     I ran down, hoping the whole way that no one in the house. The closer I got I could see the oldest child made it out fine. She told the firemen that she was the only one in the house, and her mom was on the way. Within a matter of seconds the house went from clouds of dark gray smoke to a few flames then it looked like a fire ball. All any of us could do at this point was stand there and cry, tears of relief that everyone was safe along with tears of their loss. There were two wonderful people who ran into the home, grabbing Christmas presents, trinkets and photos in the entry way. They lost everything clothes, electronics, furniture, the typical things most of us have in our homes.

     Having the love for genealogy, my family and our memories it took a few minutes to dawn on me but their memories were gone. Sure they have the memories in their hearts but the memories they can physically see, touch and share were gone. This is a special family and we have become very fond of their son.

     We have all scanned some of our family’s most treasured memories. All of the research we have done, on our families and maybe others. If something like this were to happen to my family I know that we wouldn’t have enough time to save everything. So I’ve decided to save everything now, right now. We have a fire proof safe in our home as I’m sure many of us do. As I said earlier I have scanned many documents, letters and photos. I will now make sure that my USB stick, with all of our memories and my research on it is kept that safe. I will only pull it out to backup and save any photos or research that I’m working on then return it directly back to the safe. Unfortunately this is a lesson that I have learned at someone else’s expense and hopefully many of you will follow.