The Tavern Fire of 1784
A major fire destroyed the tavern in Salem on the morning of January 31, 1784. The fire is recorded in the Salem Diary for that date.
“This morning in the third hour (3 AM), we had no small fright, for our Tavern broke into flames and in a hour and a half … it had been reduced to ashes.
Brother and Sister Meyer (the tavern keepers) and their children … succeeded saving themselves and a few of their belongings, but all the rest ... went up in flame. It was indeed a great loss; but we thank the Savior that there was no wind and the fire went no further, and that by the efforts of the Brethren the stable and barns were saved and also that no Brethren were injured.
A Couple of strangers (non-Moravians) from Wilkes County were the guardian angels of Br. and Sr. Meyer, and rescued them after the flames had made considerable headway.
In a letter to the Altesten Conferenz, Br. Meyer said, among other things, that last Wednesday, the 28th he had been overcome by a feeling of trouble without knowing why; that he had prayed to the Lord for new grace for forgiveness and had felt that all was well.
Yet this was not enough, and he had been brought to consider how much grace and mercy the Savior had showed to him, and he could not think of one room or one little place in the house (the tavern) where the Savior had not shown him special grace.
In spite of the blessing which accompanied this experience, he had felt the trouble constantly until he went to sleep last night. And in spite of the terrible sequel he could not thank the Lord enough that He had held his hand over him and his family; for in a quarter of an hour the flames would have overcome them.”
Happily the tavern pictured above was up and running before year’s end.
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