100 Years Ago: Two disastrous fires result in loss of six barns near Morenci, near Clayton

100 Years Ago

July 17, 1924: Six barns, four of them or large size, a corn barn, a hog house, a large, modern chicken house, two wagons and farm tools belonging to three farmers, and the season’s hay crop on two farms were lost in disastrous fires last night, one near Morenci and the other two near Clayton. The two large barns, farm tools and the entire crop of alfalfa hay, estimated at 10 tons, which had just been stored in the barns yesterday were destroyed by fire this morning, about 3 o'clock on the William Farrell farm, one and one-quarter miles southwest of Clayton. The farm is occupied by Frank Aumeck and son Royce Aumeck and their families. When the fire was discovered, an effort was made to summon help over the telephone but most of the instruments had been shut off during the thunder storm early the night before and few responded until the blaze was too far advanced to save the building. The chemical engine from the village was sent out and helped to save the house and other smaller buildings. Blazing shingles from the burning barns were carried by the strong wind across the road, setting a large barn on the James Gahagan farm on fire which the fire fighters were unable to extinguish and the building was destroyed together with a hog house in close proximity. The loss here included tools belonging to Earl Holmes who works the Gahagan farm, his home being nearby. The loss is partly covered by insurance. Three large barns, a hog house, a corn barn, and a large, modern chicken house were destroyed by fire about 10 o’clock last night at frank Riddle farm, six miles east of Morenci, after lightning struck one of the barns setting it on fire. The farm is known as the David Beebe farm. The loss included the crop of alfalfa hay from 36 acres of land which had recently been stored in the barns.