Bio: Crossett, John (Barn Fire - 30 Dec 1966)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Crossett, Stanek

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 05 Jan 1967

Defective wiring may have cause a fire early Thursday morning which destroyed a large barn on the John Crossett farm, Owen (Clark Co., Wis.), killing 46 milk cows and 10 head of young livestock.

The loss also included a storage shed, farm machinery and tools, and a large quantity of hay.

A neighbor, Frank Stanek, discovered the blaze and telephoned the Crossett home. Heavy smoke thwarted efforts of the owner to enter the barn to rescue his cows.

Snow blocked roads, which delayed arrival of the Owen Fire Department. Fanned by a brisk northwest wind, flames had progressed too far for firemen to save the barn or shed, so their efforts were concentrated on keeping the blaze from destroying the farm dwelling.

The exact cause of the blaze was undetermined, but Owen firemen expressed belief that it may have been cause by defective wiring.