ROWAN COUNTY -- After a fire destroyed a Rowan County home, a family is sharing a message of hope, despite losing decades of memories inside. A well-known member of the Salisbury community lived in the home.
Despite nearly everything being destroyed, one keepsake that survived brought family members to tears. Ouida Davis stood and watched late Tuesday night as her parents’ home burned down.
"Just came down here and watched the memories. It was in flames at that point,” said Davis.
Salisbury fire crews tried to save what they could of her parents’ Bringle Ferry Road home. It was hard for Davis and her family to watch, but thankfully nobody was hurt.
“We're just so thankful that she wasn't in there because this would have been far worse then just losing a house,” said Davis.
Davis’ mother Ruby Goodman, known for a bridal dress shop and keepsakes store in downtown Salisbury, owns the home.
"Standing there watching it, my dad passed away five years ago and then last year my mom had a stroke, and it was just all those memories, just you know,” said Davis.
"The main thing is things can be replaced, people can't,” said Davis.
Goodman wasn’t home when the fire started.
"She couldn't have survived that, that was just such a bad fire, but we were safe. God spared us,” said Davis.
Despite the fire destroying and melting nearly everything in its path, fire crews salvaged something very unexpected. In the middle of the interview, Davis was brought to tears.
"Only because mom made it. My wedding gown, 38 years ago, and look everything is still good inside,” said Davis.
Davis says they’ll work through this tragedy, even upholding her mom’s famous yearly tradition, thanks to some recovered bulbs.
"Those bulbs will get in the ground for that cross, because that's what mother's known for, every year that cross blooms at Easter,” said Davis.
Fire officials say the fire started in the attic. They have not determined an official cause at this time.