During the electrical storm of Monday night Carl A. Solion's barn, about 8 miles southest of Twin Valley, was struck by lightning and completely destroyed by fire. Two horses were struck dead by the bolt and three more perished in the flames, one horse being saved. Mr. Solien had about 66 tons of timothy hay in the building, all of which was burned, together with several sets of harness and other things stored in the barn.

As soon as the blaze was noticed several of the neighbors hastened to the place and it was with hard work that the residence was saved, owing to the wind which at that time was prevailing.

The barn was built six years ago, and worth in the neighborhood of $1,500; the five horses will average at least $100; and the hay, harness, etc., will easily amount to $400 more, making a total loss of about $2,500, with $700 insurance on the building, $200 on the horses, and $2.00 per ton on the hay. The loss outside of the insurance will be close to $1,500, and at this time of the year it will be a very hard matter to buy good work horses to finish up his fall work on the farm.

During the same storm lightning struck the barn on the Wm. Larson farm in the Town of Flom and the building was burned to the ground. Herman Rude is renting the place and he had the hay loft filled with hay.

Moral: Insure with Magnus Lundberg.

Source: August 28 1909, Crookston Times
Submitter: Brenda G.
Updated April 2015, K. Kittleson