Horses Housed
There, And Cats,
Are Not Injured
BY AMY ROSE
STAFF WRITER
A horse barn more than one century old on the campus of Holston United Methodist Home for Children was destroyed by fire early Sunday morning.
No injuries were reported, and six horses and two cats escaped the blaze, according to Art Masker, president and CEO of Holston Home.
The cause of the fire is undetermined and does not appear to be suspicious, according to Greeneville Fire Chief Mark Foulks.
Chief Foulks said 911 received a call at 3:13 a.m., which Masker said was made by a passerby who saw the flames. Masker said he received a call at about 3:15 a.m.
The first unit from the Greeneville Fire Department arrived at 3:18 a.m. to find the barn 50 percent engulfed in flames, Chief Foulks said.
The horses were in nearby pasture, according to Chief Foulks.
Firefighters pulled two tractors and one hay-baler from the barn, Chief Foulks said.
According to Masker, the barn was built in 1904 as part of a dairy operation at what was then an orphanage.
The boys at the home worked in the dairy operation, Masker recalled.
WAS EQUESTRIAN CENTER
In 2003, Holston Home rebuilt the barn into "a showcase equestrian center" for a therapy program to serve the youth at the home, Masker said.
He estimated that it would cost $500,000 to replace the barn.
"We're all, of course, saddened by this," Masker said.
The barn, which was used daily, is a loss to the youth at Holston Home, who "found it as a peaceful place to go," Masker said.
"They're significantly saddened by this," he said.
Also, the barn is a loss to the alumni of Holston Home, particularly those who worked in the dairy operation and enjoyed returning to campus to see the barn, Masker said.
The barn was the last structure on campus from Holston Home's days as an orphanage, Masker said.
He noted that an around-the-clock shift supervisor made a routine check of the barn at 1:30 a.m. Sunday and found nothing out of the ordinary.
The executive committee of Holston Home's board of trustees was scheduled to meet at 3:30 p.m. today to determine the next step, Masker said.
The horses could be housed at one of several farms owned by staff and board members at Holston Home, or a temporary shelter could be built for them, Masker said.
The horses were given to Holston Home by various donors, Masker said.
Each horse had a unique story that helped the children connect with them, he said.
For example, the Clydesdale suffers from "shaky-leg syndrome" and is unable to serve as a pulling horse, he said.
Other horses had been neglected, he said, adding, "They became part of the Holston family."
Holston Home already has received several calls from individuals who are willing to make donations toward rebuilding, Masker said.
Chief Foulks said firefighters stayed on the scene until sometime Sunday afternoon battling hot spots in the hay that was at the barn.
"We're extremely grateful to the fire department," Masker said, noting that firefighters worked in the rain and cold to contain the fire.
All four GFD fire engines responded to the fire, Chief Foulks said.
Fire Marshal Alan Shipley was scheduled to return to the scene today to investigate.
