News: Loyal - Saw Mill Fire (1964)

Contact: Audrey Roedl

Email: audrey@wiclarkcountyhistory.org  

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----Source: The Loyal Tribune (Loyal, Clark County, WI) 13 Aug 1964

The Loyal Volunteer Fire Department was called Friday afternoon around 2:30 p.m. to the Norman wolf Saw Mill.

The mill was completely destroyed due to high west winds. The fire started in a pile ignited by sparks from a welding torch being used to repair machinery. The saw mill and adjacent planning mill were completely destroyed. There was no insurance on the buildings and an estimate of a loss of $15,000 to $20,000 was given by Norman Wolf.

A city pumphouse near the saw mill was also burned. The pumphouse held one of the city’s three water producing wells. Electric lines to the pump house were also burned away.

Due to a shortage of water in the community the firemen used water sparingly.

The saw mill, located on the east side of the city, several blocks south of Highway 98 was built five years ago.

Norman Wolf announced that he purchased another mill Monday, and plans to be back in operation by the end of this week or the first of next week. A new building to house the mill will be constructed in the near future. It will have a steel roof and steel siding.