News: Withee – Isaac's Print Shop Fire (Jun 1975)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Isaac, Buchanan, Jensen

---------Source: Owen Enterprise (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 26 Jun 1975

An early morning fire gutted the building housing Isaac's Print Shop in Withee (Clark Co., Wis.) Sunday morning, and despite efforts by the Owen-Withee Fire Department the firm suffered a total loss.

The fire company was alerted at 7 a.m. Sunday and when they arrived on the scene the entire roof of the structure was ablaze.

There is speculation as to what caused the fire, but John Isaac told the Owen Enterprise Monday forenoon that he reasoned that lightning had struck the building during an early morning electrical store. Two residents of the building who live in upstairs apartments, Jeff Buchanan and Marvin Jensen, said they had smelled smoke, and when doors were opened that morning allowing ventilation, flames erupted and were uncontrollable. The fire company remained at the scene until two o'clock in the afternoon.

Fire Chief Ron Gehrke was out of the city Sunday, but visited the scene Monday afternoon and told the Owen Enterprise that he had not determined the cause of the blaze for his report, at that time, nor did he make any estimates of the loss, which is heavy, as the firm was equipped with modern equipment.

Tuesday evening a volunteer "clean-up" program was held at the plant, with member of the fire department, Withee Lions, Owen Kiwanis Club, and the Owen-Withee Chamber of Commerce taking party.