News: Colby (The Park fire - 1972)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Brock, Grube, Thede, Walter, Weidenhoeft

----Source: The Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, WI) 5/04/2016

Originally published in the Tribune-Phonograph, Thursday, May 4, 1972

Fire loss at The Park set at $50,000; cause unknown

The Park, a popular area dance hall and tavern, that was totally destroyed by fire early Thursday morning, April 27 was valued at approximately $50,000, according to Duane Grube, Abbotsford, owner of the building.

Cause of the fire has not yet been determined although it has been established that the fire did start in the old beer bar, which Grube states, had not been used for here weeks.

The building was partially covered by insurance and Grube said plans are still indefinite whether or not a new building will be constructed.

The fire is believed to have been reported by a passing truck driver, about 2:30 am. By the time firemen arrived, the fire was out of control. Firemen attempted to enter the building through a rear door, but were turned back by the flames. Within an hour after the fire was reported, the roof collapsed with the walls following shortly after.

The Park had been a popular dancing spot, although, there had not been a dance in the building Thursday evening. Grube said he has a good crowd that evening, closed the bar at 1 a m, and was the last person to leave the building, about 1:14 a m.

A state fire marshal has inspected the burned out structure, but Grube said no definite conclusions had been made concerning the cause of the fire.

The Park is not oly remembered by the younger person, but many old-timers as well. The building was constructed in 1914 by Herman J. Wiedenhoeft, a carpenter. (In those days, the Wiedenhoeft Park.)

He operated the pavilion for many years, selling it in November of 1944 to Bernie Walter, who then sold the business seven years later, on May 24, 1951 to Leroy Thede.

Thede operated The Park until 1959 when it was sold to Alvin and Gladys Brock, who split up the land selling the building on June 28, 1961 to the Abbotsford Sportmen Club, which used the facility until selling it to Grube on October 1, 1969.

Much remodeling had been done in the building in 1970, including the main dance hall, both bars and moving the old state to a new location in the building.