Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 121, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1909 — Fire Destroys Barn and Flames Threaten Fine Residence. [ARTICLE]

Fire Destroys Barn and Flames Threaten Fine Residence.

The barn on the Joseph Norman property north of town, on the main gravel road at the intersection of the first east and west road, was destroyed by fire Saturday night, together with one buggy, one, carriage, some harness, a saddle, blacksmith tools, etc., and considerable hay and corn. Mr. Norman bad come to town and Mrs. Norman discovered the fire at about 8 o’clock. At that time the flames had enveloped almost the entire building. An alann was sent in and the fire department from this city answered the call. The building had collapsed before they arrived, however. The fire was a half mile beyond a water main, but several chemical engines were taken along, but not used. Attention had been given by neighbors with buckets of water to prevent a spread of the fire to the wood shed and residence which were not far from the barn, and these were saved with considerable difficulty. The barn was built about 10 years ago and was a large and quite good building. It contained about 6 tons of hay and 40 or 50 bushels of corn. Mr. Norman estimates the loss at SSOO. He had $135 insurance on the barn and $l5O on the contents. His net loss will exceed S2OO. It was insured in the Ohio Farmers’ Co., with the J. C. Porter agency.