By Karen Jacobs
Harvey County Independent – November 21, 2013
A structure fire destroyed a home in rural Halstead over the weekend and there were no reported injuries.
The Halstead fire department received the call at 5:05 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17 of a structure fire at 9118 SW 24th and arrived on scene at the rural home at 5:11 a.m.
The home is located one mile north and mile and half east of Halstead. The house was formerly located in Halstead at 329 Main, in the location of the current Halstead Bank drive thru. Halstead Bank purchased the home for the expansion of their drive thru and sold it to Mike and Marcia Hill. The home was then moved to its current location on 24th Street.
The bungelow home was built in 1910 by the Dreese family, who owned the funeral home at the time and it was located in the the current Gatz Realty Building. It was a long-time home of the Dreese family.
The home was purchased on Oct. 17, 2000 at an auction by the Hill family. They moved it to its current location in the spring of 2001.
“The day we moved it, lots of people came out to watch, as it was a big deal,” Marcia Hill said. “Of course that almost didn’t happen because it was almost too wet to put that much weight on the truck without it getting stuck.”
Marcia said because of the type of basement they wanted, it took until June 2003 before they could find the right contractor to pour the basement and get moved into the home.
Marcia lived in the residence until recently when she sold the home to Caleb and Cynthia Quick almost 13 years to date on Oct. 15, 2013.
Halstead Fire Chief Jim VanSchaick said the structure is a total loss. He said by the time fire crews arrived on the scene the roof was fully engulfed. VanSchaick said the fire was driven by the strong winds. He said the gusts only helped fuel the fire.
The Quicks were home at the time of the fire and got out safely.
VanSchaick said the cause of fire was undetermined at this time but is possibly electrical. He said the fire started in the ceiling.
“It is incredibly sad to see a beautiful home destroyed,” said Hill. “My thoughts and prayers are with the new owners now. Even though I am very sad to see this, especially after all the years of hard work, it must be so painful for them, since it was their first home. Please say prayers for them and be helpful to them as they rebuild.”
Crews from Halstead, Burrton, Hesston and Sedgwick were on scene. VanSchaick said there were about 25 firefighters. VanSchaick said the last crew left the scene at 10:05 a.m.
The United Methodist Church in Halstead will be taking up a special offering for the Quick Family at both of the services on Sunday, Nov. 24.
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