Ford loses Civil Rights memorabilia in fire
State Sen. Robert Ford lost irreplaceable memorabilia from the Civil Rights movement and a collection of neckties in a Sunday fire that destroyed two rooms in his West Ashley home.
Photo Gallery
Senator Ford House Fire
State Sen. Robert Ford's house caught fire Sunday afternoon, damaging two rooms and the attic. Smoke damage could be seen throughout the house.
But Monday, Ford wasn't letting the fire keep him from taking care of business. He went ahead with a planned grand opening at his campaign headquarters. Ford is being challenged by Dwayne Green for the Senate District 42 seat.
Ford said he's most upset about losing items from the Civil Rights era.
Among them were photographs of himself with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the Rev. Ralph Abernathy, the Rev. James Orange, Ike Williams, the Rev. Joseph Lowery and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, he said. "My whole past is gone," Ford said.
He said he had kept the papers and photographs in a safe deposit box at the Bank of America on King Street, but he brought them home when the branch closed last year.
He also said he lost all of his clothing, including 219 neckties he said he had purchased from "all around the country and the world."
Ford said he thinks repairs to his home will take at least three months, so he's looking for a short-term place to live. He spent Sunday and Monday nights in a hotel, he said. He has to be in Columbia for several days and plans to look for a place to live when he gets back.
On Monday, Ford sat on a chair on his porch as an insurance adjuster looked at the damage. His two cell phones rang constantly with business calls and friends checking to see if he was all right after the fire.
He had a few changes of clothing in his car, and he used his closed car trunk as a table to eat take-out for lunch.
But he hasn't lost his sense of humor. He seemed to enjoy telling how he was trying to douse the fire with a garden hose as the fire department pulled up.
He was saddened, however, about losing the historical documents he kept on shelves in the master bedroom.
"Ninety-nine percent of me was in that bedroom," he said.
Reach Diane Knich at dknich@ postandcourier.com or 937-5491.
E-mail this story 
Printer-friendly version
Notice about comments:
The Post and Courier is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. The Post and Courier does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "suggest removal" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our Web site.
Full terms and conditions can be read here.
Comments
This article has 17 comment(s)
Posted by moonpie on May 6, 2008 at 6:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ha Harpo,,,,,,,,,,,, great one!
I am sorry he lost his "past". It is unfortunate and I'm just glad no one got hurt. But did you hear how the fire started? If I read or heard the news correctly an overloaded extension cord caused the fire? Is this man that stupid to run an extension cord permanently in his home? And he keeps getting elected to the SC assy?!
Posted by theronce on May 6, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thankfully, no one was hurt. I remember having an attachment to things, and I regret his loss.
Posted by armymom on May 6, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
awe man, all them neckties...
bummer
Posted by blah_blah_blah on May 6, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Choosing politics over a fellow South Carolinian's major losses.
Real Classy, Jerks!
Posted by DCartisan on May 6, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Glad no one was hurt. I lost all of my pictures during Hugo. I was fairly young then so I know he probably lost lots more photos than I did.
Posted by Chief_SittingBull on May 6, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Not at all a RF fan, but I can empathize with dealing with the loss of cherished items. Hope you were well insured, Mr. Ford with USAA or the likes…“the Farm” will drop you like a hot potato.
Posted by blah_blah_blah on May 6, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He is desperate in this up-coming election and he challenger is quit smart! That's what I'm saying.
*CORRECTION*
He is desperate in this UPCOMING election and HIS challenger is QUITE smart! That's what I'm saying.
Kind of ironic.
Posted by amylrod on May 6, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Ford, I am sorry for your loss. They were your treasures, your mementos which cannot be replaced. They were meaningful to you; but sir, remember, that at anytime anyone can lose everything that has value when it comes to possessions. Your family and friends are your true treasures, and I am thankful that no harm came to you and your family.
Blessings,
Amylrod
Posted by Larz13 on May 6, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If Bluesteins were a publicly traded company, I would be buying.
Posted by KidYendor on May 6, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would never pose in a picture with Jesse Jackson. I am surprised anyone would.
Posted by Chilldiesel83 on May 6, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Losing a home or part of a home to fire or any other type of loss is tragic and devastating. I disagree about the State Farm comments. Just because one has a claim does not mean that they automatically get dropped. There are numberous other factors that are involved. Take this case for instance, say Rep. Ford has had State Farm or anyone for that matter for only a couple of years. They have no other lines of business with that company. Then a fire loss such as this one occurs where the insuring company pays out thousand of dollars, because some policyholder used an extension cord improperly. You can't really say that the owner of the home contributed to the loss, but maybe he did in some way. Insurance companies try not to insure these high risks, so often times after a significant loss, it is prudent if there are negligent factors involved to make a business decision and drop the customer. If no insurance company did that, then they would all go out of business, the federal government would take over, it would be some sort of program like FEMA, and we all know what would happen then. Instead of paying a couple of thousand dollars a year for insurance, you would be shucking out a couple of hundred thousand dollars with no warning if something did happen to your home. Then what would you do.....
Sorry for the insurance company disertation.
Losing a home is bad, and losing valuable documents, whether the general public thinks they are worth valuing or not, is a terrible thing and always unexpected.
Posted by Chilldiesel83 on May 6, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Early, you are incorrect about that one. In fact, in South Carolina, State Farm only non-renewed policies that were located within 1000 ft of the high tide mark on barrier islands in Beaufort, Charleston, and Georgetown Counties. In Horry county, where there is no barrier islands, only a certain number of policies along the coastline within 1000 feet were non-renewed, including some State Farm Agents themselves. This was less than 1000 policies in South Carolina, a state in which State Farm has one of the biggest shares of the market. Other companies, maybe specifically Allstate and Nationwide, cancelled over 10,000 policies in South Carolina that included policies far far inland, not just those on the coast. I am not sure where you get this 1/3 of their policies from and that another 1/3 of them are getting cancelled. Yes the policyholder that gets cancelled is in a tough spot, because there are not a lot of companies writing on the coast. If one is available, then you can be sure that the premium will be very expensive. From what I have read and understand, I would like to venture a guess that the main reason these insurance companies do not like insuring homes on the coast, is not because of wind damage. We all know that if a hurricane hits, it will destroy homes that are inland just as well as it can those that are on the ocean. The big picture that jumps out to me is what if Allstate and Nationwide and State Farm, and Farm Bureau are trying to stay out of the legal system. No homeowner's policy in the State of South Carolina that I am aware of has any type of coverage for flood. However, lawyers such as Mr. Scruggs with the whole Katrina issue, like to try and twist words around to make big companies pay for flood damage when they have stated for 60 years plus that there is no coverage for flood under any type of Homeowner's policy. I would probably be inclined to try and limit my exposure as well, just so that there would be no question of whether is was flood damage or wind damage. It seems pretty simple to me. Fact of the matter is that if the insurance companies are left to pay for everything, even those things that they do not provide coverage for, then it could quite possibly lead to bankruptcy and ultimately the cancelling of everyone's policy, not just those that are situated where their feet can be wet with the rising tides each day.
Posted by Chilldiesel83 on May 6, 2008 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No I do not work for State Farm, Allstate, or Nationwide. Just thought I would say what was on my mind. And yes, I still believe that a fire loss to a home is very bad, and that any person cancelled by an insurance company without just cause is wrong and I am against it.
Posted by downtownsurvivor on May 6, 2008 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am so sorry for Mr. Ford's lost. I am even more disgusted that people can be soooo cruel! Yes his civil rights memorbilia are a tough lost just like if it were a Confederate flag or a pic with George W! I don't think these comments would have been made if this were Mayor Joe Riley! Just be thankful no one lost their lives!
Posted by jcncamscott on May 6, 2008 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
He seems to be more concerned about his neckties and pictures than anything else. Very shallow.... But like Harpo said, he can start over with a pic of Rev. Wrong. Things happen for a reason.
Posted by sbs920 on May 6, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
oh those poor neckties. . .
do you think any of them were "clip-on"
I would like to think not. . .
Most of ties from Bluesteins are the fireproof Rayon.
Better get Chief Rusty on the case. . . .
I smell lawsuit !
Posted by Chilldiesel83 on May 6, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who is your State Farm Agent buddy?