Articles in the Research Center at the Washington County Historical Society, detail how the fire calls on Feb. 4 went out at 1:05 a.m.
High winds drowned out the sound of the first siren so a second was sounded. The delayed response along with drifting snow that blocked local roads meant “the plant was doomed before the arrival of the local fire department.”
Local authors Lee and Mary Krueger referenced the fire in their book, ‘The History of the Town of West Bend.’ “Firemen had to shovel the road to get the engine through. Then they had to scrape the snow off the river and chop a hole in the ice to get water. The mill loss was in excess of $300,000.”
Fire Chief George Kuehlthau determined the fire apparently started in a frame structure built in 1941.
Lyle Hader, 83, of West Bend also recalled the fire.