As firefighters worked to contain the multi-building fire Sunday morning in downtown Enterprise, just a few doors down, people were scrambling to remove historic items from inside the Pea River Historical & Genealogical Society Gift Shop and Library building.
Forming a human chain, books, photographs, and carts of maps and other documents part of the research library were passed from inside the building and safely moved across the street. Surrounding business owners brought over hand trucks to move filing cabinets. The original Boll Weevil Monument was carefully carried by hand, out of harm’s way.
“In the midst of the shock and devastation, our community embraced the opportunity to do anything they possibly could,” Main Street Enterprise Executive Director Mariah Montgomery said. “Selfless volunteers entered the smoky historic society building and formed a chain to remove all they could before being told it was time to go. Moments like this are unforgettable.”
The items are now being stored in a secure facility where they will remain until they are moved back downtown. Pea River Historical & Genealogical Society will be closed to the public through Saturday, Oct. 22.