Obituaries: Floyd Wren, 1953, Winn Parish, LA Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: August 20, 1953 Winn Parish Enterprise Floyd Wren Killed In Fire Eight Room Dwelling Is Reduced To Ashes Tragedy struck Winnfield today (Thursday) when an early morning fire took the life of Floyd Wren, 43 year old son of Dr. and Mrs. F. C. Wren, and completely destroyed their large home on North Street. The fire, of undetermined origin, broke out about 8 a.m. Thursday morning and had levelled the 1 « story frame structure by 9 o'clock. Funeral services were incomplete at 4 p.m. for Floyd Wren. The remains were in Hixson Brothers Funeral Home here, pending arrangements. The fire was believed to have started about the kitchen, although it is not definitely known what happened. Mrs. Eula Peavy, who lives at 201 North Jones, just across a vacant lot from the Wren house,, said she heard someone scream and looked out and saw the smoke. At first thinking it to be trash burning, she soon determined that the house was on fire and ran across the lot and began shouting for help. Mrs. Peavy said the kitchen part of the house appeared to her to be the first that burned. One report stated that both Dr. Wren, a dentist and long time resident of Winnfield, and his son had eaten breakfast and were sitting on the front porch when the fire was discovered. Dr. Wren ran across the street to have someone phone the fire department and while he was gone the sone went back into the house. However, no one knew exactly what took place, since the two were alone at the house at the time. Witnesses on the scene said that Floyd was dead when they brought his body from the house. He was burned but died from shock when he went into the blazing house. Dr. Wren received several burns in attempting to fight the fire. He was taken to a neighbor's house, suffering from shock also, while firefighters were battling the blaze. He is being treated for the burns. Floyd Wren's survivors are his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Wren, and one sister, Mrs. Tommy H. (Margaret) Harrel. Mrs. Wren is in an Alexandria hospital where she had undergone an operation recently. She was reported to have been brought home within the next few days. House Old Landmark The Wren house was one of Winnfield's old landmarks, having been built here in 1900 by John G. Teagle, father of Mrs. W. R. Horton. It was the first frame house ever constructed in Winnfield, the buildings before that date having been built of logs. The Wrens had been living in the house since about 1944. The house had eight rooms, two baths, and a large back porch. It was a total loss with nothing being saved. An estimate on the damage was not made, however, the loss will probably go more than $15,000 including furnishings. Firemen Fight Losing Battle Firemen who attempted to stop the blazes waged a losing battle, as the fire was too far gone to bring under control when the equipment arrived. This was the first fire the Town has had since the fire truck was wrecked Sunday morning. Hose was brought to the scene on the dump truck which is serving as a temporary fire truck.