News: Humbird - Local (Feb. 20,1932)

Contact:  Lani Bartelt
Email: prolixiam@sbcglobal.net

Surnames: Staves, Schlichter, Buchholz, Pierce

----Sources: Humbird Enterprise Newspaper (Humbird, Wis.) Feb. 20,1932

Two Houses Destroyed by Fire

Monday noon, the house on the Staves farm was burned to the ground. Fred Schlicter, who rents the farm, reports that the family who were eating dinner, heard a noise upstairs and thought it was their two younger children, who had been asleep. A few minutes later an explosion occurred and the upper part of the house was found burning. He rescued the children, uninjured, but received severe burns on his hands in doing so. Mrs. Schlichter received a painful cut in one hand from broken glass. Part of their household goods were saved. At present the family are housed by neighbors. The loss on (the) house and contents is estimated at $4500. The house and also furniture in the house belonging to Mrs. Ida Staves, are insured In Pigeon Falls mutual. Mr. Schliehter carried no insurance.

The house belonging to C. F. Buchholz, and rented by Geo. Pierce and wife, burned About 3:00 o’clock Tuesday morning. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce were asleep and barely escaped burning to death. All their belongings excepting a few clothes which they had on and could get hold of as they rushed from the house were lost.

The house took fire from the wing part on the east side. A week or more before a piece of burning carpet was found under that part of the house, but it was discovered by Mr. Pierce, and extinguished. A month ago a barn on the property burned. Mr. Pierce and wife are located in a small building owned by Mrs. Anna Pierce with a good lot of household wares which were gathered by some of our good folks. There was insurance on the building and also the contents.

Note of Thanks

Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Pierce wish to thank all the friends who contributed clothing, furniture, dishes and cooking utensils to help them start housekeeping after the fire which destroyed all their belongings. They especially wish to thank those who secured the contributions.