A rare "A.F. Lutts" token recently sold for $54.11 on eBay, the popular online auction site. "A.F. Lutts" was one of Skidmore's first general mercantile stores. It was among 18 local businesses destroyed by fire back in 1919. The proprietor, Mr. A.F. Lutts, later served as mayor of Beeville in 1912-13. Mr. Lutts died in 1933 and is buried in Beeville's Glenwood cemetery. The "Beeville Bee" reported on the fire that destroyed the A.F. Lutts store and others:
Fire Wipes Out Skidmore's Principle Business Section - Blaze at Early Hours Yesterday Morning Razes Eighteen Frame Buildings
THE BEEVILLE BEE, May 29, 1919 - Beeville's Motor-Driven Equipment Taken to Scene of Conflagration. Fire yesterday morning at an early hour wiped out the principle business section of Skidmore. Bee county town of 1500 people, eleven miles south of Beeville. Eighteen frame buildings were razed by the flames. No estimate of the loss has been made. Little insurance was carried, as the rate for he district was almost prohibitive - the risk on account of the frame structures closely clustered being unusually hazardous. The heaviest losers, doubtless, were M. J. White, who conducted a general merchandise store, and J. B. Hollingsworth, proprietor of the Worth Drug Store. Much of the merchandise and fixtures were saved from the buildings. Aside for the Messrs. White and Hollingsworth other losers were: Titus Boerm who conducted a pool hall; Hugo Russek, restaurant; Howard Faupel, barber shop and Hill & Konce, K.T. Garage. some of the owners of buildings which were destroyed were E. B. Kessler, A. F. Lutts, Doubrava & Bohac and Mrs. Emil Eichblatt. The origin of the fire is unknown. It started in a building that had been vacant for many months. In some quarters it is believed it was of incendiary origin.
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