Mahoning County OhArchives News.....Beard Barn, Stock Destroyed in $75,000 Fire January 14, 1954
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Jennifer Neff ffen@zoominternet.net January 31, 2006, 9:19 pm

Youngstown Vindicator, Th, 14 Jan 1954 Front Page January 14, 1954
Beard Barn, Stock Destroyed in $75,000 Fire
62-Year-Old Structure Is Lost; Beard, Sons Can't Save Cattle
One of Mahoning County's largest barns was virtually destroyed and valuable 
livestock lost in a $75,000 fire which broke out on the Arthur Beard farm in 
New Buffalo Road near Western Reserve Road early today. Although Boardman 
Township fire department officials listed loss at between $40,000 to $50,000, 
Arthur Beard said his loss is about $75,000 in building, machinery, livestock 
and feed. The large barn, erected in 1892 by Beard's grandfather, Sylvanus 
Beard, was 100 feet square and had seven gables. The farm is on New Buffalo 
Road, about a mile south of Western Reserve Road. 
Daughter Saw Light
Beard said the fire was discovered at 4:25 a.m. by his daughter, Mrs. Caroline 
Gould, who was awakened by a bright light in the sky. She looked out the 
window saw flames and shouted fire. Beard and his two sons, John, 17, and 
Richard, 21, rushed to the barn and attempted to drive some 75 head of 
frightened cattle and horses from their stalls. Moat of the building was 
aflame and part of the roof had collapsed. John Beard received a deep cut on 
his right arm while attempting to drive the cattle from the blazing building. 
A 900-pound Guernsey bull and 10 head of cattle were lost. Beard said four 
thoroughbred horses, three brood mares and a stallion, which had been driven 
from the building, raced back into the barn and were destroyed. Two tractors, 
a truck and threshing machine, hay and grain were also destroyed. Firemen from 
Beaver, Boardman and Canfield townships watered down nearby buildings but were 
unable to save the barn. Firemen said that dry hay and grain stored in the old 
structure fed the blaze. 


Additional Comments:
Comment from Jennifer L. Neff, 2005
My father, Robert H. Neff, drove me past the spot where this large barn once 
stood. He was very sad to see it gone. He remembers visiting there and he said 
that the barn was the biggest one that he had ever seen - and also one of the 
best-looking.

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