The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-04-29
WINTERS BUILDINGS
BURN YESTERDAY
is ONLY PARTIALLY
INSURED
HOME CONTENTS SAVED
BARN BUILT LAST YEAR RE,
PLACED ONE DESTROYED
BY CYCLONE

Wednesday afternoon fire com
pletely destroyed the fine new barn
and splendid home on the James
Winters farm five miles southwest of
Sank Centre.
There was strong southwest wind
blowing and it is generally conceded
that a stubble fire carried sparks to
the barn, granary and later the
house.
An alarm was sent in for the Sank
Centre fire department but the de-
partment became confused over the
order received over the phone, mis-
taking "Wingert" for "Winters" and
travelled to the north part of the
city expecting to find the barn at the
Wingert home on fire.
When they finally reached the
Winters farm the barn was a seeth-
ing mass of flames and the fire had
spread to the house about $50 feet
northeast of the barn. The chemical
was the only part of the equipment
available to extinguish the flames and
the tanks We're soon exhausted. It
us possible that the house might have
been saved if the department had
headed for the Winters home as soon
as the alarm was turned in.
The total loss on buildings and
machinery will not be far short of
$4,000, partially covered by insur-
ance carried in the Metre Grove
Farmers Insurance company.
The cyclone which passed through
this section May %, 1925, completely
demolished the barn on the farm and
a modern structure 36x72 feet with
ID foot posts was erected last year
at cost exceeding $500. The
house was one of the substantial farm
homes of that prosperous section of
Stearns county. The main part of
the house was 18x30 with am addition
16x18. 1t was full two stories and
had eight rooms. The main portion
of the house was built over 80 years
ago.
When the fire was first discovered
Mr.. and Mrs. Winters was at the
home OF her son one-half mile away
and Mr.. Winters was fixing fence
some distance away. Some of the
near neighbors had arrived on the
scene before Mr.. and Mrs. Winters
reached home. A younger son was
blowing nearby.
Practically everything in the barn
was removed except ten ton of hay.
The granary was to the east of the
barn and this was also destroyed to-
gether with 1000 bushels of oats,
$50 bushels Of wheat, 80 bushels of
buckwheat; practically all of the
farm machinery and three hogs were
lost.
Willing hands also saved practical
ly the entire contents of the house.
Mr.. Winters stated to the Herald
this Thursday morning that he would
probably rebuild on the present site
but had not fully determined. The
adjusters of the Metre Grove Com
pany were to settle the loss this
Thursday afternoon. In the mean
time Mr.. and Mrs. Winters and
family will reside with their son Clar-
ence and family. s..-
This fire has forcibly brought out
the need of Community fire fight
ing equipment. There has been some
talk of such an arrangement in the
past and the Herald, would urge the
town officers in townships adjacent to
Sank Centre to get together with the
city and see if an arrangement can
not be made whereby equipment es-
pecially adapted to cope with fires
in outside territory cannot be Sc
cured. The investment will be saved
many times over in the course of a
few years. The local fire depart
ment are more than willing to lend
their cooperation and service to any
arrangement which can be made.