State Historic Site Catches Fire

Fremont — Firefighters put out a fire at former Gov. Charles Aycock’s birthplace in Wayne County early Thursday, authorities said.

The fire started about 4 a.m.in the main house at the state historic site, authorities said. The cause of the fire hasn't been determined.

Fire alarms alerted firefighters to the blaze so it be put out quickly, said Keith Harison, director of state historic sites for the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources.

"After the Thomas Wolfe (birthplace) fire in Asheville some years ago, the division implemented a program to install as many fire alarm systems as possible in our historic buildings," Hardison said.

Fire-retardant shingles also helped contain the fire, he said.

"The firemen themselves said that the roof performed wonderfully in this situation," he said. "The damage to the roof is extremely minimal."

There was no word on the extent of the damage to the house. Authorities said the site would remain closed to the public until teams can assess the damage to the structure and the collections inside.

Aycock served as governor of North Carolina from 1901 to 1905. His birthplace historic site features a mid-19th century farmstead, including a house, kitchen and outbuildings.

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Latest Comments

Darn, wrong governor.

The Fox
January 24, 2008 1:15 p.m.

I have been to the Aycock birthplace and by outbuildings they do mean outhouses, a school house, a barn, and several other buildings in addition to the house. I am pretty sure the kitchen was actually a separate building from the house. During the day they cook in the kitchen with an open fire hopefully that was not what caused the fire.

msudawg
January 24, 2008 12:44 p.m.

Outbuildings can be sheds and other types of structures. They can also include outhouses too. Depending on the area and type of language used from the area.

ptahandatum
January 24, 2008 11:41 a.m.

"The historic site features a mid-nineteenth-century farmstead, including a house, kitchen, and outbuildings".

What are outbuildings? Are they "outhouses?