A call of a structure fire was quickly followed by billowing black smoke and firefighters frantically working to slow down a devastating blaze striking downtown Pauls Valley early Tuesday afternoon.
A large crowd of onlookers gathered as a major fire spread into a historic building with a handful of shops in the 100 block of South Chickasaw.
Although no injuries were reported, the list of victims included the longtime local Honest Bus Pawn Shop, described as the oldest still in operation in the state, and a driving school.
Early indications are a jewelry store located in the middle of the L-shape building was spared from the worst of the damage caused by a blaze that kept firefighters from four local and area departments busy for hours.
The cause of the fire remains a mystery for now as Pauls Valley firefighters believe it started somewhere in the upper levels of the pawn shop.
“The cause is still being investigated,” PV firefighter Brian Black said.
“We believe it did start above the pawn shop. If we can get in safely we’re going to check that out. It’s still smoldering, but the fire’s out,” he said nearly three hours after the fire broke out.
In fact, Black said it took nearly two hours for firefighters to contain the fire as flames were shooting out of shop windows.
When it was done there was complete devastation inside the pawn shop as the second floor had collapsed down to the ground level.
Plenty of damage was also reported to the shop occupied by the Precision Driving School, while a jewelry store located in between is believed to have suffered only smoke and water damage.
Fire departments working to contain the fire included Pauls Valley, Wynnewood, Stratford and Purcell, Black added.
While watching the devastating scene one of the few bright spots and reasons to smile for pawn shop owner Joan Hunter came when firefighters were able to salvage a sign from the window of a business open here in Pauls Valley for 54 years.
The rest of the news was anything but bright for Hunter.
“It’s very sad because the community depended on us for 54 years,” she said while standing among the many onlookers.
“It was a family owned business started by my parents. We were called the poor man’s bank.”
The pawn shop was housed in a building constructed in 1898 that once served as a Chickasaw saddle shop, she said.
The shop included an area covering about 7,000 square feet plus an upstairs that was used mostly as storage, Hunter said.
Early on her mother operated a dress shop in the back, while her father, Buster, tinkered with air conditioning systems in the front.
That started to change when someone asked Buster for a $5 loan. He agreed as long as the man left his watch for collateral.
“People found out he loaned out money and that started the Honest Bus Pawn Shop,” Hunter said.
“It grew so fast they just closed up the dress shop.”
According to Hunter, the business had the number two license in the state for pawn shops. With the first one no longer around, the local pawn shop had been the oldest still in operation, she said.
Front Page
Related Photos
Discussion
Historic building devastated
Major blaze strikes downtown
- Local News
-
-
Group looks to make fitness fun
Fitness and fun — a great combination for an ever expanding group working to better the health of those in the entire Garvin County area.
- 4-H program helps with 911 signs
- Despite 75th milestone, GC livestock show maintains tradition
-
Group looks to make fitness fun
- Sports
-
Giants wide receiver Hakeem Hicks is taken down by Patriots defender Devin McCourty after a 19-yard gain.
-
SLIDESHOW: Giants beat Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI
The New York Giants won their fourth NFL championship Sunday in Indianapolis, scoring in the final minute to defeat New England 21-17.
- SLIDESHOW: Super Bowl by the numbers
- ESPN show to look at PV topic
-
SLIDESHOW: Giants beat Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI
- Obituaries
-
-
Dale Gore
Dale Gore, 47, of Wynnewood was born Dec. 7, 1964 in Wynnewood to Ruby Laverne (Jones) Byrum. He passed away Feb. 1, 2012 at Oklahoma City, Okla.
-
Martha Freeman
Services for Martha Ann Freeman, 81, of Byars are at 2 p.m. Friday at the Stratford Church of Christ.
-
William Walter Barckholtz
William (Bill) Walter Barckholtz, 68, of Pauls Valley, Okla., died January 30, 2012 at Pauls Valley General Hospital.
-
Madison McKenzie Vandever
Madison McKenzie Vandever of Pauls Valley was born September 17, 1996 in Pauls Valley to Billy and Dana Vandever.
-
Dale Gore
- Community News
-
-
Theater focus of PV native’s return
Addiction is a condition one usually tries to avoid or seek treatment for, but when it comes to theater, Pauls Valley native Vaughn C. Johnson only seeks to feed the habit.
- Missoula prepares for audition rush Feb. 20
-
Theater focus of PV native’s return
- State News
-
-
Nominate an Unsung Hero
Citizen Service Before Self Honors are presented to unsung heroes the fewer than 90 living recipients of our nation’s highest award for valor - the Medal of Honor. Citizen Service Before Self Honorees represent the values of courage, sacrifice, and selfless service.
-
Fallin highlights more cuts to Oklahma income tax
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin provided more details of her plan to cut the personal income tax for all Oklahomans during her State of the State address to lawmakers on Monday, but had few specifics on how she plans to pay for the ambitious proposal.
-
Nominate an Unsung Hero
- Business
-
-
Avoid the Top 10 Resume Mistakes
It's deceptively easy to make mistakes on your resume and exceptionally difficult to repair the damage once an employer gets it. So prevention is critical, whether you're writing your first resume or revising it for a mid-career job search. Check out this resume guide to the most common pitfalls and how you can avoid them.
- Coughing? Sneezing? How to know if you're too sick to work
- 50 year mark a milestone for man, business
- 5 tips to help you land a new job in 2012
- Proposed farm labor rules
-
Avoid the Top 10 Resume Mistakes
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
Kelly Clarkson Honors America at Super Bowl
NY Giants Touch Down Victorious
Video of M.I.A's Obscene Halftime Gesture
Murder Trial for Ex-U.Va. Lacrosse Player Begins
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
Foreclosures Down 34 Percent in 2011
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Few Answers in Death of Sons of Missing Utah Mom
M.I.A. Flips Bird at Super Bowl Halftime Show
