News: Greenwood (Gregorich Barn Burns - 21 Jun 1973)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Gregorich, Bertz

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 6/21/1973

Greenwood (Gregorich Barn Burns - 21 Jun 1973)

A barn, belonging to Raymond Gregorich, Rt. 1 Greenwood, burned to the ground shortly after 1:00 p.m., Monday afternoon taking with it 25 heard of Holstein cattle, a twelve year old hunting hound, and a dozen farm cats.

The 40 by 160 foot barn, located on state highway 73 south of the highway junction was enveloped in flames by the time volunteer firemen arrived from the towns of Eaton and Warner.

No cause of the fire has been determined; however Clark County sheriff’s department personnel believe the start of the blaze to be either lightning or broken electrical wires coming in contact with flammable material.

The fire is believed to have started during the heavy wind storm that raked the area during the noon hour, Monday. Phone lines were down in the area and neighbors and sheriff’s department officers on the scene had difficulty in reaching the volunteer fire department to report the blaze.

According to Sheriff Bertz, Gregorich and his son were in another farm building when his son noted smoke coming from the barn. By the time the men opened the barn door the entire building had filled with smoke.

Due to heavy winds from the southeast the remainder of Gregorich’s buildings was spared.

After the blaze was first spotted viewers at the scene stated that it only took 4 minutes for the roof to finally cave in and the remainder of the hay stored in the barn for the past two years to go up in flames.

A milk house located on the southeast corner of the barn and of new construction, remained standing after the blaze was finally extinguished. Also left standing was two cement silos at the northeast corner of the barn.

Gregorich reported that he had insurance on the building but at Press time did not know how much of his loss would be coveted.