Farm house is destroyed

This story was published by the Ypsilanti Daily Press on Friday, February 2, 1912.

The house on the farm known as the Tracy farm two miles west of Ypsilanti, together with its contents, was entirely destroyed by fire at 4:30 o’clock this morning. It was partially insured.

C. Deake, who now occupies the place, arose as usual this morning and built a fire in the kitchen stove and went to the barn to milk. He had been gone about ten minutes when there was an explosion. Returning he found the kitchen in flames and the house filled with gas. An alarm was sent out among the neighbors who quickly responded and started a bucket brigade. The flames had gained such headway that their efforts were directed toward saving the barns and other buildings. The wind, however, was in the opposite direction from the barns or they would undoubtedly have burned also.