1917 Fire in Atlanta

A devastating fire occurred in Atlanta neighborhoods consisting of 100 blocks in May of 1917.  The old newspapers, Atlanta Constitution, carried pictures and articles on the subject.  The cause was a fire started in a storage building near the intersection of Decatur and For Streets. These were the days of gas lamps and heating.The flames swept from Decatur Street, to  Boulevard and Barnett Street and the fire threatened the mansions on Ponce de Leon Avenue, dynamite was used to hold the fire.  A high wind swept the fire across the city. When it was finally contained by local firemen, thousands were found homeless.