This past Sunday brought the end of a piece of my family history. Ancestors from my mom's side were some of the first settlers in our area and our family has remained here, farming on the family farm, for over 170 years. While I was in college the old farmhouse was moved from it's original location to the neighboring hayfield, so that my aunt (who had been living in the old farmhouse) could put a new house in it's old location. My grandfather didn't want the farmhouse to be destroyed at the time. (I cannot blame him-he grew up there and he was attached to the old place.) Grandpa passed away last year and, after considering several options for the old farmhouse, my family made the decision to donate it to the fire department to use for a practice burn and ultimately have it burned down.
The fire department happened to invite my husband's fire department to join them, so Rich was able to get a little practice in as well. I had every intention on taking pictures throughout the whole process, but when I arrived, I realized that I had left the camera's memory stick in the printer. Anyhow, the only documentation I personally got was video footage and haven't figured out how to get it all in one video AND be able to post it on my blog, so I'm just going to show a few of the 20 clips of video that I took. You probably didn't want to watch 10 minutes of a house burning anyway, right? ;-)
This first video is shortly after they started the fire and Rich was getting ready to go in for some practice.
This next video is after all the firefighters left the house and it was at the point where they were going to just allow it to burn. They decided to get a group picture and if course I had to videotape it with having no camera! ;-)
This last video is when most of the house had collapsed. The kids were getting too cold being outside, so we were in my parents' house for this clip.
How'd the family take it? Were they as connected as your Grandpa was?
ReplyDeleteSorry you had to let the old piece of history go, but glad the fire dept. could at least practice their skills in the processs.
ReplyDeleteandrea
This made me feel sad...but then I realized it is only four walls and the memories that were made inside those four walls will last a lifetime)
ReplyDeleteThat would be hard! I grew up on a farm in an old farmhouse that my brother and his family now live in. So many memories.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome that the fire dept. got some practice in!
Wow, I;m not even personally attached and I felt a pit in my stomach watching a piece of someone's history go like that. What a great way to use the building for the good of all though...as training.
ReplyDeleteWow, I'll bet it was hard to see it burn! At least they were able to use it for practice that could help save another home.
ReplyDeleteIt was very nice to let the fire department practice on it. How sad to see it go. How do you let go of history like that?
ReplyDeleteHow sad! Your family is amazing to be able to donate a meaningful part of your family history to help others!
ReplyDeleteAw, that makes me sad! How did the family handle it? Lucky for Rich though! =)
ReplyDeleteOh wow I bet that was emotional for your mom seeing it being burnt down.
ReplyDeleteThat was very nice of them to donate it, glad they could get some practice in.