Skaalen Home Is Destroyed By Fire  

  All Occupants Are Saved As Flames Burn 46 Year Old Structure to Ground   

“A smoke-blackened shell is all that remains today of the Skaalen Home for the Aged, which Sunday morning was gutted by a fire which drove its 40 elderly occupants out into a chilly spring breeze.  No one was injured in the fire, and all the old people either walked or were carried to safety by spectators or members of the Stoughton fire department.  Several hundred people watched the spectacular fire. The fire, which according to J. Donald Larson, superintendent of the Skaalen Home and the Martin Luther Children’s Home, was started by sparks from the chimney, began on the roof, and, fanned by a sharp wind from the southeast, soon enveloped the whole roof, and within two hours had destroyed the entire building.

                                                                                                   $50,000 
Loss Mr. Larson estimated the loss at between $40,000 and $50,000, all of which is covered by insurance.  He also estimated that about 50 percent of the furnishings, equipment and personal belongings of the occupants was saved. 

The fire was discovered by George Waag, maintenance man at the Home.  The Stoughton fire department received the alarm at 10:20 a.m. and was at the scene of the fire at 10:26.  The flames had already engulfed the roof by the fire department arrived, and, hampered by the lack of water supply, they could do little to save the building.  Members of the fire department helped carry the old people to their safety, many of whom unaware of their danger, did not want to leave the building.

                                                                                       Wet Down Buildings 
The fire department used its meager water supply to wet down the house occupied by the Carl Reierson family and other farm buildings immediately behind the Home.  Mr. Reierson is farm manger of the Lutheran Home Farm.  Without this action these other buildings would certainly have caught fire also. 

The old people were placed on the front lawn in chairs saved from the fire.  They were then carefully wrapped in blankets to protect them from the chill wind.  They presented a sad sight, and there were many tears shed as they watched their home and many of their belongings to up in flames.

                                                                                         Ambulances Used 
Calls were made to the three funeral homes in Stoughton, and their ambulances and some private vehicles were used to carry the old people to Stoughton where two bed patients were taken to the Community hospital and the remainder to the Community building which was opened for their use.  Some were taken home by relatives who rushed to the Home as soon as they received word that it was burning. 

Mr. Larson stated that they hope to find homes for those still at the Community building until some permanent arrangements can be made.  Plans have been in the making for some time now for the construction of an addition to the building which burned down Sunday, but Mr. Larson said he did not know just what would be done now. . . . “

“The fire Sunday occurred almost 21 years to the day from the date that the old Martin Luther Children’s Home burned down.  That fire occurred on April 5, 1925.  No lives were lost in that fire either.

                                                                                             46 Years Old 
The Skaalen Sunset Home was 46 years old, having been first opened Jan. 25, 1900.  It was erected in 1899 on the 200-acre homestead farm of Mr. and Mrs. Gjermund Skaalen, after whom it was named.  They gave the land for the purpose of erecting a home for the old and homeless. 

When the home was first opened in 1900, ten people were admitted, but the general average cared for each year since that time has increased, so that in recent years the average has been between 40 and 45. The Home is owned and operated by the Department of Charities of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. . . . “ 

Excerpts from the Stoughton Courier Hub, April 1st, 1946