The people of Brooksville were awakened early Sunday morning by the fire alarms sounded soon after fire was discovered in one of the rooms of the Varnada Hotel. It appeared to the observers that the hotel could not be saved from the destructive flames. Some of the furnishings were removed from the building, though the owner, Capt. L.B. Varn, reports that not any great portion were saved.
The Hotel loss in value will amount to something over thirty thousand dollars. Capt. Varn reports that the insurance will not near cover the loss. He cannot say yet what prospects he has for rebuilding on the lot, which is among the best situated in Brooksville.
The flames rapidly gained headway and extreme fear was felt for the safety of the other important business houses in the same block. The fire, when viewed by the Southern Argus representative, threatened the destruction of the entire business section. Because of the extreme danger, women and children commenced at the outset to removing the stocks and fixtures of the business houses. Practically all of the stocks were removed. Among the stocks removed were those of Mrs. D. T. Cappleman, V.V. Coogler, A. G. Fridy, A. M. McCauley, Sanders Grocery & Feed Store, Mrs. Chas. T. Gary, J. M. Rogers, and Dr. W. W. Thompson. Also the furnishings of the office rooms on the second floors were removed.
[The fire was contained within] the Hotel building largely because of the foresight of Cashier W. M. McKethan, of Hernando State Bank, who had constructed special fire walls between the Bank building and the hotel building. A number of men conceived the fact that the buildings could be saved and commenced the carrying of water and organized a bucket brigade. Luckily there were enough willing workers to secure the necessary amount of water.
Since the fire, Mrs. D. T. Cappleman has established her new quarters in the People’s Hardware Building.
The damage to stocks and loss of articles can hardly be determined at the present writing.”
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Editor’s Note:
Capt. Varn built the Varnada Hotel around the year 1900. As the Southern Argus article described, it was located next door to Hernando State Bank, which later became SunTrust Bank on East Jefferson Street.
The hotel had three floors and 30 rooms. It had running water, but each room did not have a bathroom. Two to three bathrooms serviced each floor.
L.B. Varn was a Mason and served as county commissioner. He was originally born in Georgia. He was married to Clara S. Varn. He owned a home in Bayport, dairy, orange grove, ice plant, cannery and garage. He is credited with developing a higher quality milk stock in his dairy operation, building a telephone line from Bayport to Tooke Lake and constructed at least 40 houses in Brooksville. L.B. Varn died 7 Oct 1928, 70 yrs.
This article is courtesy of Historian Frasier Mountain.