Father's Day Fire historical marker placed in Iola
The marker was placed at the site of the 1999 Father's Day Fire.
It reads:
"June 20, 1999 - Father's Day - was disrupted by a blaze that destroyed seven buildings on the west side of Main Street in downtown Iola under a gorgeous blue sky and calm weather.
"More than 200 firefighters from Iola, Scandinavia, and eight other Central Wisconsin fire departments, along with volunteers from the large group of bystanders, battled the blaze that destroyed historic century-old buildings, some dating to pre-1890.
"Eleven businesses and eleven apartments were engulfed by the flames. Shared basements and attics meant the fire easily sped from one building to the next in a short period of time. A towering plume of black smoke stuck out like a sore thumb in the blue sky.
"By knocking down two buildings in the middle of the block, firefighters were able to stop the fire from spreading north to the rest of the block. Fortunately, no one was injured, although two cats, one kitten and a dog perished in the blaze. Residents and business owners sifted through the rubble the days after but found little, although a wedding ring thought lost in the blaze was one of the treasured finds.
"Fire inspectors could pinpoint where the fire started among the burnt rubble, but not the reason for the tragic blaze.
"Businesses destroyed included: Bestul Realty, Iola Vision Center, Grandpa's Still, Physical Therapy Associates, Iola Veterinary Clinic, State Farm Insurance, Prescriptions Plus Sweet Medicine, Kranski Krafts, X-L Communications, Associated Claims Service, Coatco, and Yonash Construction."
The historical marker is sponsored by the Iola Historical Society.
Marker No. 1 in was dedicated last February and commemorated 100 years of ski jumping in Iola and the Iola Winter Sports Club. That marker is located at the IWSC chalet.
A series of Historic Iola markers will be installed over the next decade, highlighting historic buildings, houses, events and people in the Iola area. The markers will remind and educate residents and visitors of Iola's heritage and history.
In an introduction to the dedication of marker No. 2, Greg Loescher noted there were 13 volunteer fire departments that battled the blaze. Eight of the fire departments were represented at the ceremony including Iola & Rural, Scandinavia, Village of Plover, Manawa Rural, Ogdensburg/St. Lawrence, Clintonville, Weyauwega, and Fremont Wolf River. Other departments that helped on June 20, 1999, were from Waupaca, New London, Mukwa (now part of the New London Fire Department), Marion and Amherst.
Donors who helped finance the Father's Day Fire historical marker were the Iola and Rural Fire Department; village of Iola; Dale and Stacy Bestul, in honor of Iola Fire Chief Charles "Chuck" Fritz; Howard and Kathy Bestul; Dr. Mary Jo Byers and Dr. Jeff Byers, of Iola Vision Center; Bill and Sue Westphal; Susan Shambeau, of Prescriptions Plus Sweet Medicine; Clifford and Sally Mishler; and Rural Estates Realty.
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