News: Loyal, Wis. - Lightning Fires (1957)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Lau, Bratz, Strey 
 

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) July 25, 1957 
 

Lightning Fires (20 July 1957) 
 

Two bolts of lightning started a fire which razed the 72 by 36 barn on the Hugo Lau farm, located six miles southeast of Loyal during last Saturday afternoon’s severe electrical storm.  
 

Loss included a 36 x 15 milkhouse attached to the barn, 1,400 bales of straw and 1,700 bales of this year’s hay. 
 

A bull and four heifers, inside at the time, were led to safety by Mrs. Lau and Robert Bratz, a farm hand; and some small tools also were saved.  The herd of 23 milk cows was in the pasture at the time. 
 

Mrs. Arthur Strey, a neighbor, saw the first bolt hit the southwest corner of the barn about 4:30 p.m. She called Mrs. Lau.  A few moments later the second bolt struck. 
 

The loss was partially covered by insurance.  The Laus purchased the farm about eight years ago.