A new article has been added to: http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/index.php?action=displaycat&catid=360 Vermont Direct link to article: http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/link.php?action=detail&id=59298 Article title: The Poultney Journal Article date: September 18 1925 Article description: Two Frightful Thunder Storms. Article: Two Frightful Thunder Storms. Barn on Old Bliss Farm Burns to the Ground. Poultney has seldom if ever been visited by such a violent storm as that of Saturday afternoon and evening. The intense heat and humidity of the day was arrested about 3:30 in the afternoon when a tremendous wind arose. This lasted but two or three minutes, when the heavens opened and the rain descended in all its fury. Thunder and lightning accompanied the storm, and the suddenness with which the storm arose caught automobiles unaware. Pedestrians were hemmed in wherever they could find shelter, and in the accompanying darkness the electric lights were put out of commission. The storm had no sooner commenced than a bolt struck the cupola on the big barn of George Durfee on the East Poultney road. Neighbors rushed to the barn and moved out the horses and a few farming implements, aside from which everything was lost. Mr.and Mrs. Durfee were both at the Rutland fair at the time, and the buildings were in ruins when Mr. Durfee returned at 6:30. The village fire alarm rang from the East Main street call, and several of the firemen responded with the Chemical truck. At this time the fire had gained such headway that the barn was doomed,so attention was turned to the house and a couple of small buildings, which almost joined the dwelling. The heat was intense, and the flames were eating their way towards the home. Prompt action were necessary and a stick of dynamite was set off in the center of the shed, which felled the building and saved the home, not however , until volunteers took hold and helped lay a line, of hose from the nearest hydrant, which! was at the intersection of East Main street and Furnace street extension. The barn was built about sixty years ago, and was a very substantial structure. Ten thousand dollars is a reasonable valuation of the burned buildings, to say nothing of the hay and grain which was stored. This was the first summer that Mr. Durfee had stored the yield of oats in the big barn, and the flames consumed the entire crop of 367 bushels, besides eighty tons of hay and about fifty tons of straw. Thus, in almost the twinkling of an eye an entire summer's work has been lost. Both Mr. and Mrs. Durfee are hardworking, energetic people, and the sympathy of the community goes out to them. The storm with its accompanying thunder and lightning continued on in the evening with more or less wind and at 7:30 a huge limb fell out of the mammoth elm on the lawn of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Seely. In its fall the limb rested for a second on the electric and telephone wires, then falling to the sidewalk. The electric wires sagged and a short circuit was created, and before communication could be had with the electric station a wire was severed and total darkness reigned supreme. Superintendent Pinney and his men worked for some time in repairing the wires, and late in the evening light was restored. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ NewspaperAbstracts.com - Finding our ancestors in the news! TM http://www.NewspaperAbstracts.com Also visit our other sites: http://www.AncestorsOnTheWeb.com http://www.Genealogy101.com http://www.AutumnWindz.com