1913 January 26 Yorktown suffered a terrible fire. The block on the north side of Smith Street was lost and later rebuilt. The fire started in the back of LH Greer Drugs on the northeast corner of Walnut and Smith. (The site was later Bonnet Drug Store and The Stork’s Nest.)
The fire also burned the post office, Signal Handcock Grocery, E & F Prillman Hardware, Dr. C.H. Wright’s office, and the apartment of William Hanson. The I.O.O.F. had just taken possession of their new meeting place just days before the fire. All was lost. It was a terrible day in the history of our town. Fortunately, there were only minor injuries.