By Paul Garrod
Staff Writer
HARTFORD – Following two years of repairs to the roof and structure of the Van Buren County Historical Museum in June of 2022, following a high wind and rainstorm that damaged the roof, the museum will hold a grand reopening ceremony, June 23, from 2 to 5 p.m.
During the night of June 13, 2022, a portion of the museum’s roof was blown off the historic structure. Following that, museum volunteers and others worked to restore the rooms following the roof repairs. While the roof repairs were made, museum pieces were removed and placed in storage, and then replaced in the historic site that previously served as the Van Buren County Poorhouse.
It was 140 years ago, April 30, 1884, the original two-story, wooden frame Van Buren County Poorhouse, along with two outbuildings, burned to the ground. The poorhouse was situated on part of a 173-acre tract that was purchased by the county for a poorhouse in 1866. There were approximately 60 occupants at the time, including staff and residents of the poorhouse. Area newspaper reports of the fire said a hired man, Halsey Kelley, was roused by noise and discovered the fire at approximately 1:30 a.m. He quickly raised the alarm in the building and rang a large bell notifying the neighbors, who rushed to help.
The fire began in the east wing in the residents’ sitting room, when Halsey opened the door, it was reported that he “was almost overpowered by a volume of flames and smoke that burst out.” The east wing was a total loss, as 14 residents in that wing perished. The cause of death for many of them reported that they suffocated before being consumed by the fire ne. The fire moved from the main building to a bakery, which delayed the flames from reaching another outbuilding that housed other residents who were considered a danger to themselves or others.
The total cost of the loss to the county was estimated to be approximately $10,000, with insurance coverage of $5,000.
Among those who perished in the fire were: Jonathan Sargent, Antwerp, Debby Cravet, Bangor, Ella Williams, Bangor, Ann Maria Williams (Ella’s daughter), Bangor, Benjamin Bogardus, Breedsville, Elizabeth Curtis, Breedsville, Jimmie Johnson, Covert, Caroline Shearer, Covert, Fred Ekenburger, Decatur, Thomas Sawyer, Kalamazoo, Peter Golden, Keeler, Henry Bankes, Waverly, and Josiah Myers, Wavely.
The hired man, Kelley, reportedly died approximately two weeks later due to smoke inhalation that he suffered in the rescue efforts.
In 1894, the current three-story structure was built.
This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Van Buren County Museum.
