Bio: Owens, Pierce (Barn Fire – 1971)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Owens, LaPage

---------Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 2 Sep 1971

About a week ago 400 bales of hay were put in the north end of the 35x95 foot barn on the Pierce Owens farm, and Tuesday night it was leveled by fire.

Spontaneous combustion was given as the cause of the blaze.

The Owens family was at home shortly after 10 p.m. when they heard a truck horn blowing. Their farm is at the intersection of Highway 73 and Country Trunk N, three miles south of Withee (Clark Co., Wis.). As they looked out to see what was going on, they were stunned to see the roof of the barn ablaze.

The fire company got the call at 10:14, and by the time they arrived at the scene, all they could do was play a stream of water on nearby building to protect them. Fortunately, the southeast wind fanned the blaze and heat away from the other farm buildings.

Four head of young stock were lost in the fire, as was several hundred tons of chopped hay that was in the south end of the barn. Neighbors and onlookers assisted firemen in removing all equipment from the milk house, including a 500-gallon stainless steel bulk milk tank.

Five or six calves were freed from the barn and three of them were cherished animals, belonging to Linda, 16, June, 14, and Virginia Owens, 10, and all three had been exhibited and won awards at the Owen Junior Fair and the Clark County Fair. Two others were relieved of their misery when seen roaming about in the emblazed barn, by gun shot from a weapon fired by Art LaPage, Withee's police officer.