ARTICLE

Heavy Fire Loss at Farmers Branch

Fire destroyed the two-story building which housed the Farmers Branch post office and the Farmers Branch telephone exchange, and did much damage to the Masonic hall, Butler's drug store, and the grocery stock and building of J. J. Putnam early Sunday Night.
The fire was first discovered about eight o'clock in the roof of the building housing the exchange and John Tom Padget, who was at the switchboard at the time, gave the alarm and called Carrollton for help. It appears that a Dallas connection could not be secured and so some folks went to Letot and called Dallas fire department for aid. The majority of the Carrollton Fire Department responded and carried two hand chemical tanks and Holmon Rhoton and some others took two more and with this they were able to control the fire, which had spread to the Masonic hall, and hae it nearly extinguished when the Dallas fire fighters arrived.
The two story building in which the fire originated was the property of W. T. Good and housed the post office on the lower floor, and a family also resided in the rear. Much of the post office equipment was saved. The Bell Telephone exchange was housed on the second floor and Mrs. Johnie Padgett and her son and daughter lived there and operated the exchange. Thy lost all their household and personal effects, and the exchange board and all equipment was destroyed.
The Masonic hall is a two story brick building and the Butler drug store occupies the lower portion and the upper is used for lodge purposes. The wood work about the windows took fire as did also the stairway and this spread into the roof. The brick building adjoining lodge building is occupied by J. J. Putman with a grocery store.  He suffered heavy loss because of hastily removing his stock of goods.  The loss to the drug store was also heavy. The Masonic building and equipment was damaged to an extend of, perhaps $750 or $800.
Gus Good's garage was close to the burning building, on the north. By throwing water on the exposed wooden portions they kept that building from taking fire. His loss was very small.
Butler's stock was moved out and then in again with practically no loss.  J. J. Putnam's  stock was all moved out and then returned when the fire was stopped, and he had some losses.
The postoffice has taken up quarters in the Thompson & Smith store. The telephone exhcange is housed for the present in one of the Millaway tourist houses. They are debating at this time wheter to install an automatic system or continue with the old system and retain Mrs. Padgett as operator. Most Farmers Branch folks would prefer the old system and the retention of Mrs. Padgett.

The Carrollton Chronicle; Friday, October 13, 1933
Submitted by Edward Lynn Williams