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| Credit to Bangor Daily News |
For many of us, the current barn at the former Mower homestead on Pushaw Road is the only one we know, but it was not the original barn. On 31 March 1940, every farmer's nightmare played out the Mower farm - a raging fire. It had been just a little over a decade since my grandfather had taken over the farm following his father's death, and now he faced this catastrophic setback.
It was mid-morning. An overheated stove in the milk room seems to have caused the fire as it was reported as originating nearby. The fire consumed the barn, while also devouring 30 tons of hay, 10 tons of straw, 6 tons of lime, 60 bushels of oats and a ton of fertilizer. Various pieces of modern dairy and farming equipment were also lost. All total, the damage was placed at $15,000 (about $275,000 in today's dollar).
A brook flows behind the buildings, providing water and allowing the fire department to have three hoses pumping.
Fortunately the house was saved, despite a strong wind that was blowing in that direction. The house was connected via a small shed to the milk room and the barn beyond. It was reported in the local newspaper that "fireman placed boards in front of themselves to shield them from the terrific heat and chopped the shed." By good fortune, this saved the house.
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