This is the time of the year, with Halloween, is often promoted as a scary season, with its fake ghosts, witches, etc. Perhaps, with wild fires in several places, including on a Hawaiian Island, plus death dealing earthquakes and man-made wars, etc. this early autumn has seemed especially scary.
Thankfully, this time of year is a period to enjoy the beauty of colorful leaves, mums, carved pumpkins, etc. I have recently talked with a couple of local farmers who expressed surprise about the high quality and quantity of their crops, in spite of a shortage of rain during the summer and early fall.
Looking back at Muscoda and Wisconsin history, the fall season has not always been a happy time, especially because of fires. On September 1, 1894, much of the Muscoda business section, including several barns, as well as homes, were destroyed by a fire that started with children playing with matches in a barn.
Firemen from Muscoda, Boscobel, Avoca and Lone Rock, the latter arriving by railroad “hand cars”, fought the blaze. Several buildings were torn down to stop the spread of the fire. Estimated loss was more than $50,000, which was a lot of money in those days.
Perhaps the worst fire in Wisconsin history was on October 8, 1871. The Wisconsin Heritage organization recognizes a fire at Peshtigo and nearby villages as the worst disaster to ever strike the state.
The fire burned over a million acres in eight counties, destroying the landscape. The human toll was more than 1,000 dead and 350 missing, 1,500 were injured and 3,000 people were left homeless.
Also destroyed were two billion trees and thousands of animals. The human death toll was five times more than were killed in the Great Chicago Fire, which happened at the same time.
Perhaps that information will make folks a bit more careful when they consider burning that old brush or trash pile in the backyard or woods! I recently visited with a lady rancher from Nebraska who experienced an evacuation order from their home last summer because of a prairie fire. It was not fun for her and her family, even though the blaze was stopped a few miles from their property.
Thankfully, this time of year is a period to enjoy the beauty of colorful leaves, mums, carved pumpkins, etc. I have recently talked with a couple of local farmers who expressed surprise about the high quality and quantity of their crops, in spite of a shortage of rain during the summer and early fall.
Looking back at Muscoda and Wisconsin history, the fall season has not always been a happy time, especially because of fires. On September 1, 1894, much of the Muscoda business section, including several barns, as well as homes, were destroyed by a fire that started with children playing with matches in a barn.
Firemen from Muscoda, Boscobel, Avoca and Lone Rock, the latter arriving by railroad “hand cars”, fought the blaze. Several buildings were torn down to stop the spread of the fire. Estimated loss was more than $50,000, which was a lot of money in those days.
Perhaps the worst fire in Wisconsin history was on October 8, 1871. The Wisconsin Heritage organization recognizes a fire at Peshtigo and nearby villages as the worst disaster to ever strike the state.
The fire burned over a million acres in eight counties, destroying the landscape. The human toll was more than 1,000 dead and 350 missing, 1,500 were injured and 3,000 people were left homeless.
Also destroyed were two billion trees and thousands of animals. The human death toll was five times more than were killed in the Great Chicago Fire, which happened at the same time.
Perhaps that information will make folks a bit more careful when they consider burning that old brush or trash pile in the backyard or woods! I recently visited with a lady rancher from Nebraska who experienced an evacuation order from their home last summer because of a prairie fire. It was not fun for her and her family, even though the blaze was stopped a few miles from their property.
