Fire threatens another historic building in Polo

I had a front row, center aisle seat and yet, as I watched what was happening, it was most upsetting. Were we going to lose another historic old building in our community?

Linda and I were working at the museum putting together information and pictures for Larry Plachno since he is doing a book for our American Legion. After Larry had left, Linda left also and I was working quietly on the genealogy of Patrick Fegan.

I heard the siren of a fire truck and thought to myself that it sounded rather close. My next awareness was the sound of a high-powered motor running nearby. Then I realized there was a commotion going on outside and I went to the door to investigate.

I opened the door and there in front of the museum in the middle of the street was one of Polo’s big fire trucks. It was quite a shock but more

Polo History

Betty Obendorf

of a shock was seeing smoke coming out of the old Barber Bank that now has a taco shop in the back.

I have never been so close to all the action in my entire life and I did not even have a smartphone to record anything – not that I would have done so. I stood there absolutely transfixed at what was unfolding before my very eyes.

One feels so helpless and you want to help get it all stopped. Finally, I did not want to see what was happening and I went back inside but concentrating was useless. I went back outside to see what was going on once more and spoke briefly to Mayor Doug Knapp who was standing in front of the museum.

By that time I simply wanted to go home to the safety and comfort of my living room. I am not good at seeing something destroyed. I was lucky that I could get out by the driveway behind the Polo Town Hall and I did.

From the comfort of my patio I could still have a handle of how things were going by the out-of-town fire trucks heading home south and the Polo equipment coming back to the fire station. I hope the people living in the apartments of the old bank are quickly able to get back into their homes. Smoke damage is not easy to deal with and one does need help.

We had another interesting find as Linda and Diane were doing a closet search and bringing yearbooks down to the museum so they are easier to do research. One yearbook was from the Women’s Army Corps and Linda put it out for me to look at since my sister Ruby Jean was part of that in the military years ago.

I opened it up and there on the inside was an extra big photo that was loose in the yearbook of my sister and three others holding their French horns. They were part of the band and it was an excellent picture that I had never seen.

Evidently when my parents moved from Polo some things were donated to the museum and that was one of the items. We will take it to the Isley Reunion, which is held in June, so the family can share in her military experience. We have been surprised at what has been hidden deep in the closets for many years.

•BettyObendorfisaretiredteacher and a volunteer for the Polo Historical Society.