Groveland Twp.- The embers have cooled and a charred skeleton of a livestock barn still stands? remnants of the historic 130-year-old Scramlin family barn destroyed by fire on Aug. 25.
While the cleanup is ongoing, the cause of the blaze is still a mystery.
Fire departments from Brandon, Holly Village, Groveland and Springfield townships, along with the North Oakland County Fire Authority responded to the barn fire at 3694 Jossman Road at about 4 p.m. When firefighters arrived, the100-by-36 mostly wood structure, constructed in 1878, was fully engulfed.
‘I’m just glad no one was hurt and the fire was no one’s fault,? said Marv Scramlin. ‘We’re just not sure how the fire was started’there’s just some theories.?
Scramlin said deputies from the Oakland County Criminal/Fire Investigators, the Groveland Township Fire Department, Farm Bureau Insurance, and AFB investigators have scoured through the ashes. The blaze also severely damaged one of the three silos used to store crops.
‘Our house did receive some smoke damage inside and out,? said Scramlin. ‘But our home is intact and so far the insurance company has been great.?
Scramlin said within the next year construction of a 30-by-70 foot wooden barn will begin on the same site of the old barn. This fall a 24-by-36 foot horse barn will be erected, utilizing part of the old frame still standing following the fire.
For the past 30 years, the Scramlins hosted the Mount Bethel United Methodist Church’s annual living Nativity and barn service in the old structure. The popularity of the early December Christmas celebration grew over the years.
‘The new barn will be red with a green roof,? he said. ‘Just like the old barn’plenty of room for the barn service.?
Since the fire, neighbors, friends and well-wishers have shared their memories of the Scramlin Barn. The overwhelming local sentiments prompted a host of cards and letters offering condolences to the family.
‘Perhaps in the future we can host a ‘Barn Bee,? to do a little painting or cleaning,? said Scramlin. ‘As for the money, we’ll set up a fund to give back in some way to the community.?