Campbellsport News, August 12, 1920

FIRE DESTROYS LARGE BARN

  During a thunder shower Sunday afternoon, a barn 36x60 belonging to Strachota Bros., at St. Kilian, was struck by lightning and set fire. The first intimation that Andrew Strachota had that something had been hit by lightning, was when he with several friends were sitting in the store belonging to him, noticed a flash from the electric light wire in the building followed by a tremendous crash. They immediately looked over the premises and found the large barn a mass of flames. Considerable machinery, an auto truck and a team of horses were removed, but it was impossible to save the building with the fire fighting apparatus on hand.
   Another barn close by caught fire and it smoked for awhile as though the cheese factory, the general store and homes of Andrew and Simon Strachota might also burn, a call was sent to the Campbellsport and Theresa Fire Departments for help. Both responded immediately, the Campbellsport boys making the eight mile run in their new motor truck several minutes before the Theresa department reached there. Both apparatus were put into action and the fire brought under control. The loss is about $4,000 with a small amount of insurance.