Fire Destroys
Martin Luther Orphans Home
Stoughton
Courier Hub, April 6, 1925
“Seventy-three
children, orphans and part orphans, ranging in age from seven months to 17
years, were temporarily made homeless yesterday forenoon when the Martin Luther
Orphans Home just north of town, which for 31 years has constantly sheltered
from forty-two to seventy-add such children, was completely destroyed by fire
of unknown origin.
The fire
started in the attic, which was unoccupied, except that a play room for the
children had been fitted up in the southeast corner, the remainder being used
for storage of spare bedding and articles.
No children had been in the playroom yesterday morning, however, and
there is no clue to the cause of the fire which was first detected at about ten
o’clock. Fortunately the children had
been arrayed in their Sunday best, as they were about to go to church in town,
some of the older ones having already set out for town on foot.
The city
fire department quickly responded to the alarm with both trucks, but as the
only water supply came from a cistern which, although large, was utterly
inadequate, the firemen quickly exhausted this supply and were powerless to
hinder the progress of the flames through the frame structure which burned like
kindling, so that by noon only the foundation remained.
Hundreds of
people from town and the country roundabout flocked to the scene, and at the
early stages of the fire all worked like beavers to save what could be saved
from the burning building, an unselfish service of which, Rev. N. A. Stubkjaer,
superintendent of the Home, is, indeed, deeply appreciative. In fact, many people, says Mr. Stubkjaer,
continued to carry out things until it was positively dangerous to enter the
building.
Most of the
furniture on the first floor, we are told, was saved, as was also most of the
bedding from the girls’ ward.” “…but
nevertheless a heavy loss was suffered in the destruction of the entire laundry
and kitchen equipments, and of the stocks of soaps, smoked meats and groceries,
kept in the basement.”
“The
children belonging in the Home were, for the time being, entrusted to families
in town and vicinity, with whom they will remain until other arrangements can
be made.”
“The Orphans
Home was erected in 1893 and was taken into use in April, 1894, when Olaf
Solheim moved his flock of 42 children there from Madison where the institution
had first been established in 1889.”
“The loss,
it is believed, is fairly well covered by insurance in the amount of
$30,000. Rev. Stubkjaer has telegraphed
the headquarters of the Norwegian Lutheran Church in Minneapolis for advice as
to what to do, and it is expected that steps will be taken as soon as possible
to re-build the institution.”
Stoughton
Courier Hub, April 6, 1925
