Bio: Mertens, Bernard (Barn Fire - 1963)

Contact stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Mertens

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 08/08/1963

Mertens, Bernard (Barn Fire - 2 AUG 1963)

Lightning struck the 56 by 30 foot barn of Bernard Mertens located southwest of Thorp in the Town of Butler (Clark Co., Wis.) during an electric storm and downpour of rain at about 1:45 a.m. on Friday and completely destroyed the barn and hay contents. The Thorp rural fire department was called out and saved the nearby buildings from the flames. Firemen remained on duty until 4:00.

All the hay and small tools stored in the barn were lost in the blaze. Mertens and his wife noticed the fire after they were alarmed by a storm and brought their children down from the upstairs in the home where they were sleeping.

Mrs. Mertens notified the Thorp Fire Department while her husband chased the livestock from the barn. The loss was partially covered by insurance.