News: Perkinstown – Winter Sports Area Chalet Fire (Feb 1974)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: None

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 14 Feb 1974

The Perkinstown Winter Sports area chalet was destroyed by fire on Thursday. The fire was discovered by a passerby shortly before noon.

The Medford Fire Department responded promptly to a call for assistance, but by the time they arrived the fire had gained too much headway. The firemen remained at the scene for four hours.

The fire is believed to have been started by a defective electric wall heater. The amount of loss could not be learned, but it is covered by insurance.

The county leases the winter sports area from the Federal Forest Service, and built the chalet about 15 years ago, replaced an earlier one which had been erected by the Forest Service. The Gilman FFA has had the concession at the recreation area for a number of years.

The fire loss at the chalet was set at $25,000. The loss, in addition to the building, included a 1974 model snowmobile, stoves, 12 toboggans, tables, stools, soft drinks and merchandise.