1922 BERKLEY FIRE

On the afternoon of Thursday, 13 April 1922, a fire began at the Tunis Lumber Company, on the Berkley waterfront of the Elizabeth River. The high wind that day spread the fire quickly northward, destroying more than 200 homes and businesses, two churches, a knitting mill and several boats. By the time the fire was contained that evening, 500 families were homeless and at least a third of the Berkley community was in ruins. The pictures and captions in this month's display appeared in the Norfolk Virginian Pilot on 14 and 15 April 1922. Photos by staff photographer Charles Borjes.


[IMAGE: small child on dresser]

Safe but still scared... a small child perched for safe-keeping upon a dresser rescued from the flames.

[IMAGE: family sitting on a bed under a canvas awning]

Happy though homeless -- and entertaining guests. This was the only shelter the family had the night after the fire. Many of the refugees were fed and taken in by neighbors.

[IMAGE: rows of tents across a burned field]

Tent City, ready for refugees made homeless by the fire.

[IMAGE: skyline of chimneys and ashes ]

Picture of desolation in the burned area of Berkley.

[IMAGE: ship ablaze, tied to pier]

One of the vessels that burned at the Tunis Lumber Company docks.

[IMAGE: buildings engulfed in flames]

Great volumes of smoke, rising over the burned area.

[IMAGE: chairs, pillows, household items, scattered outside burning buildings]

Burning buildings with salvaged goods in front.

[IMAGE: baby carriage, lamps, and dressers]

Fire leaves a trail of wrecked houses.

[IMAGE: blocks of burned homes with only the shell of a church standing]

Area a mile long swept by flames.

[IMAGE: people removing bed frames and pictures from a burned home]

A family rescues furniture from their home.

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