Out of the ashes

Outpouring of community support after devastating fire

In the early morning hours of September 25, County firefighters fought to extinguish a blaze that ultimately destroyed a landmark barn on Danforth Road. The 100-year-old structure had stood proudly through the generations, and as dawn lightened into day all that remained was a small lean-to that the firefighters somehow managed to save. That small structure, and the vast outpouring of community support following the fire, made the resolve to rebuild all the more firm for farm owners Hudson Merritt and Janet Cross. The couple had moved to the County just four years earlier, and had established a thriving market garden business, selling sweet corn, vegetables and eggs, as well as chickens and turkeys, at the farm gate. Hudson was born and raised on a farm in the Guelph area, and started farming again in that region just prior to moving to the County. He and Janet were looking to buy a farm somewhere in Ontario, and they discovered the beauty of the County while taking a break off the 401 corridor during their drives to visit their daughter at a university down east.

(L-R): Janet Cross and Hudson Merritt intend to rebuild their barn that was destroyed by an early morning fire.

Hudson has a passion for farming. “I like being around animals, and I like growing things. It’s a lot of work, but it’s the one thing that I’ve done that doesn’t bother me to work hard,” he says. “I really like it here in the countryside. It gets quiet and I really like it at night when you can go out and see the sky.” The farm is about 33 acres, with 20 acres used for pasture and hay. Over the four years they have been operating the farm, they have built a steady customer base. The barn was the focal point of the business, providing shelter for the animals, storage space for hay and farm equipment, and holding the farm store in the former milk house. It was a majestic structure, covering about 3,000 square feet and standing over 40 feet tall. “It was quite a landmark,” says Janet. “People driving up and down the road have commented how they really miss seeing the barn on the horizon. It’s an open stretch of road and there was this white barn with a red roof right close to the road. We lost a lot of equipment and tools, all of the hay and everything in the retail store.” Fortunately, the tractor and several pieces of machinery had been taken out of the barn for maintenance and so were not lost in the fire.

Janet and Hudson have been overwhelmed by the community response after the fire. They were grateful that the firefighters were able to save the small lean-to. With the help of neighbours donating materials, Hudson has been able to close in the open sides to provide shelter for their dogs and remaining miniature goats. Other local farms have offered to provide storage space for their machinery, and neighbours have been quick to volunteer to with anything they might need. “Right after the fire, a couple down the road who had just moved here came up and gave us a hamper full of food,” says Hudson. “I had one lady come by and write a cheque. I’ve just been blown away by the support. We’ve barely met many of these people, and they are so willing to help.”

The couple are planning to replace the gambrel- roofed barn with a similar structure. “We’d really like to do the same style of barn, which may be challenging,” says Hudson.

“Thoe types of barn are very beautiful, but they’re not functional for modern farming. However, we weren’t really modern farming, and had no anticipation of doing that. And it’s finding somebody who can build the same type of barn that we had. It’s got a huge amount of height and a lot of space inside. We don’t want to put in a typical pole barn, which could easily be done, but it has no character.” They have spoken with a couple of builders, and hope to have the replacement barn built next summer. One of the challenges will be sourcing timber of the right size for the frame. Those will likely have to be custom sawn at a sawmill.

While there was insurance on the barn, it may not cover the full cost of rebuilding the structure. To help with some of those additional expenses, Janet and Hudson’s neighbours Leigh Moore and Wendy Daxon have arranged a fundraising dance at the Elks Hall to be held on Sunday, October 27. “Leigh and Wendy have done everything,” says Janet. “They’ve been stuffing mailboxes, they’ve done advertising, the secured the Elks Hall, they got the band together. It’s been unbelievable.” Hudson is quick to agree. “We’re so grateful for the community,” he says. “This was a terrible thing to happen, but everybody around us—the fire department, the community— has made this more bearable. It’s nice for the community, and it gives you a nice sense of humanity.”

For more information about the fundraising dance, please call 613.399.1341.