News: Neillsville – Lightning Damages Courthouse (Aug 1911)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: None

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.) 10 Aug 1911

During one of the electrical storms which passed over the county seat Sunday night about 8 o’clock, lightning struck the courthouse and set it on fire. The fire department responded to the alarm and soon had the water on it, and had it under control after an hour’s work. All floors of the courthouse were covered with water and the damage from this and fire amount to about $500.

Later during the night, about 2 o’clock, the German Lutheran Church was struck and the tower splintered and was torn, the bolt then entering the roof and throwing boards and shingles some distance. No fire resulted from this stroke.

Lightning struck several trees and telephone poles, tearing telephones and electric light wire loose. Early in the evening the electric light plant was put out of commission and the city left in darkness for a couple of hours..

Many telephones were also out of commission Monday.