If you’ve ever been interested in Fort Smith history, you might have heard about the “Night of the Lingerie Parade.” This infamous night for Fort Smith’s Commercial row started in 1910 with an oil tank explosion, and ended, allegedly, with a “parade” of women in less-than-modest states fleeing from the row houses.
While the fire undeniably took place, do we actually know how the row reacted?
The Fire
On January 7th, 1910, an oil tank exploded at North First and North D Streets. The fire burned for 12 hours, even melting a metal tower and collapsing a water tank, which spread the oil fire even further. Trolley and power services were interrupted, the Arkansas River became partly covered in an ignited oil slick, and many houses on commercial row were destroyed (fortsmithhistory.org).
The 1910 fire spared Miss Laura’s along with some others on the row, including those of Ella Scott, Bessie Stevenson, Beatrice Lester, and Mollie Rogers. The row houses of Dora Gaston and Jessie Collins burned that night. Those that were saved survived thanks to the prep work of the fire department; they were able to soak the houses down before the fire could overtake them.
The Houses
Now, about the reaction: it has circulated that when this fire hit the row, the women in the houses ran out just in what they were wearing, meaning some would have fled in little clothes, thus the name “Night of the Lingerie Parade.” It is unclear when this moniker came to be, but it was not in newspapers or historical records.
Most likely, bystanders wouldn’t have even known how the row initially reacted. If you’ll recall our last post, you’ll realize there would have been a problem with seeing the ongoings of the row at the time. If you didn’t read the last post, let me review for you: by Ordinance 760, passed in 1907, houses on the row were required to construct an 8 feet tall fence around the properties. As this was made to keep the houses private, we can assume it would’ve been hard to see any ongoings on the first floors of the houses. If the women did flee in little clothes, bystanders most likely wouldn’t have seen it anyway.
While this may not be an all around harmful rumor, it’s important to us to set the record straight rather than let the “Night of the Lingerie Parade” continue as a supposed historical incident. It’s important to note fact over speculation or local legend. While we would love to know more about how the row reacted on the night of the 1910 fire, we can’t say anything for certain.
Upcoming Event at Miss Laura’s: Join us during Fort Smith’s Fall Festival!
If you’ll allow me to change the subject before I sign off, I want to invite you to Miss Laura’s on Thursday, December 11, 2025 from 6-9PM for their 2nd Annual Nouveau Christmas Soiree. There will be live music, food, refreshments and a visit from St. Nick himself . Tickets are $50 and available at the gift shop November 15th. Get yours today, seats are limited.
Thanks for reading!