News: Neillsville, Wis. - Dr. Lee Property Fire (1956)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Lee, Rossman, Devos, King 
 

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) May 3, 1956 
 

Lee, Dr. Ell L. (1956) 
 

Dr. Lee Considering Razing Burned Building - House Occupied by Rossmans is Extensively Damaged - Plans Office There -
 

Dr. Ell L. Lee said this week that he is puzzling on the question whether to rebuild or tear down his property at 154 East 5th Street, which was extensively damaged by fire last Friday midnight. 
 

Dr. Lee bought the property several years ago with the purpose of eventually razing the house and erecting a ground floor office.  The project still was a few years off when the fire broke out at midnight or shortly thereafter.  Now it’s a question of whether he should raze the remaining structure and build new office space, try to rebuild the damaged structure, or tear it down and leave a vacant lot there for the time being. 
 

The property was insured, Dr. Lee reported, as was damage to the household goods of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Rossman, who have occupied the house for many years.  For the present the Rossmans are remaining there, having "moved farther toward the front."  
 

The fire was discovered in the woodshed at the rear of the building shortly after Friday midnight.  Mr. Rossman, who had gone to bed about 10:30 was awakened by the barking of his fox terrier, Teddy.  He saw smoke filtering through beneath the door between the woodshed and the house.  When the door was opened, he reported, the woodshed was entirely in flames. 
 

The fire was a spectacular one, with flames leaping at times 25 to 35 feet into the air. The heat of the fire was indicated by the fact that paint on the side of the A. L. Devos house, just to the west, was scorched. 
 

Firemen were called out a second time about 6:30 a.m. Saturday, when C. A. King, who lives across the street, discovered smoke rising from the roof.