It's an emotional day for a family in Marshall County after a fire destroyed one of their barns.
Several departments responded to the call before 7:30 P.M. Sunday of a barn fire in the 7000 block of Queen Road in Plymouth. The fire wasn't put out until at least six hours later and is still smoldering.
Lyle Samuelson owns the barn with his two brothers. He said the 100-year-old barn is a total loss and believes it could have started as an electrical fire in the old milk parlor.
"And it had just wood walls against the straw mount so once it hit that old dry wood it didn’t take much for it to go," Samuelson said.
In addition to the barn, Samuelson said they lost about 3,000 hay and straw bales, the old milking parlor, livestock housing and farming equipment. The barn also holds many memories for their family.
"Mom and dad bought this place when I was six months, so my brothers and I grew up in the place. It was a partnership with mom and dad. We milked cows here for basically my whole life."
Samuelson said many neighbors came to the rescue: some freeing livestock from the burning barn and others offering equipment to move what remains of the building.
"Neighbor back here had an extendahoe," Samuelson said. "He brought his down and helped move a bunch of stuff and get stuff cleared out so they could get fire knocked down better last night."
His family has lived and worked on the farm since the 1950's and neighbors helping neighbors is something they've always done.
"We did the same thing. It's the normal way for people in the country to help out each other when they can."
While the barn is a a loss, work doesn't stop on a farm and Samuelson said they'll keep chugging away.
"Keep on going. Basically all you can do is just keep on going."
Insurance still has to put a price on the damage. At some point, Samuelson said he and his brothers will have to decide if they will rebuild. He also said he appreciates the fire department was able to save the other buildings behind the barn.
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