Fires on Elon's Campus Collection

On January 18, 1923, the Old Main Administration Building was destroyed by fire. It is noted as the most dramatic event in the history of Elon College. The Old Main Administration Building is also known as "Old Main", and "The College." It held the administrative offices, library, chapel, and most classrooms. All was lost in the fire except a few typewriters and the college bell. At the time, there was an estimated $125,000 loss. The fire was first noticed by college sophomore, William B. Terrell, who was in another building and saw a small flame in a second story window in the Old Main Administration Building. Later that night, the Alumni Building (also known as North Dormitory) caught fire due to excessive heat from the Old Main Administration Building. This fire was quickly controlled and there was not much fire damage. The cause of the fire in the Old Main Administration Building is unknown. There was a fire in the Carolina Dormitory on the evening of April 9, 1976. It was caused by burning candles that were left unattended in a student's dorm room. The resulting damage was a small amount of fire, water, and smoke damage on both the second and third floors. The Annex of West Dormitory, which included the campus dining hall, went into flames on January 17, 1942. The fire started at about 4:00 in the morning from an undetermined cause. At the time, there was an estimated $30,000 in damage. Later in 1942, a temporary kitchen was built and it was connected to the east side of Mooney Religious Education Building. The Virginia Dormitory went into flames on October 26, 1977 on the third floor in a student's room. The fire started due to a cigarette lighting a mattress on fire. The fire resulted in $4000-$5000 in damage for the student's bedroom while the rest of the dorm remained undamaged.