Bio: Driscoll, Cornelius (Barn Burns – Dec 1965)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Driscoll, Anderson, Hodd

---------Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 09 Dec 1965

When Cornelius Driscoll and his wife returned home some time yesterday afternoon they were stunned by the loss of their 36x84 foot barn and some 20 head of Holstein diary cattle.

The loss was inflicted by a fire spotted by a neighbor, Dan Anderson, who lives across the road from the Driscoll farm in the town of Green Grove (Clark Co., Wis.). The farm is located three miles east of Owen to Bjorn’s corner on Highway 29, and then the first place on the right side of the road as you turn south.

Mr. Anderson said he notice a blaze coming from the roof at the northeast corner of the barn and by the time he had telephoned the fire company the whole roof was ablaze.

About the same time Robert Hodd, operator of the Abby Theatre and friend, came by with the intentions of hunting rabbits in the timbered area to the west of Driscoll’s farm. They and Anderson tried to get the west barn doors opened to free some of the 20 head of dairy cattle, but they were bolted from inside. Later one cow freed itself and came staggering out of the millhouse door, it body badly scarred and scorched.

In an act of mercy, Hodd fell the animal with a shot to its head and Ben Anderson slit its throat. The pitiableness bellowing of those trapped in the holocaust was soon quieted by the intense heat of the loss whose cause is still undetermined.

Little effort was made on the presence of the Owen fire department, as the flames rose straight upwards in the stillness of the day.