Bio: Oldham, Farm West of Neillsville (2 May 1935)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Oldham, Milbreit, Allen

----Sources: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 2 May 1935

Lightning Strike Barn

As shingling was in process on the Oldham barn west of Neillsville and was nearly completed, a rain shower drove the crew to shelter. We had merely descended and took refuge under the brand new roof, for a few minutes watching the rain and gust of wind when suddenly a terrific crash, an explosion, as though a bomb had been recklessly tossed in the midst of us. The sight that occurred at this instant cannot be explained (a moment silence) some of us were knocked to the floor, thinking we were hit. Mr. Will Milbreit who was sitting on a keg of nails went up in the air as through the keg had exploded. Mr. Milbreit also declares that the floor raised about three feet, I’m not so certain as I did not see him measure it. After the fireworks had ceased, which seemed as a hundred fire rockets, and we had revived from the shock and examination was begun, one rather was slivered full length, some sheeting had been torn away, a brace nearly cut in two. It struck on the very place I had been working a few minutes previous. No one was hurt and only by a miracle from above did we escape injury or death.

-- By Carl Allen.