The shop fire started in the early morning hours of
January 18, 2002. A faulty gas heater was the likely source of
ignition. We are grateful no one was injured, and for the Red Lodge
Volunteer Fire Department who contained the fire to this one building.
A few days later Mother Nature takes over...
Rebuilding...
The building adjacent to the one that burnt was remodeled
and retrofitted as our new shop. Before the fire it had been used
primarily for storage. A gazebo now sits where the former shop
was located..
The moose bed
Perhaps the most
heartbreaking loss from the fire was an almost completed headboard (left)
with a hand carved and painted mountain meadow scene. Lee recreated
his headboard (right) reusing the charred juniper posts after
power-washing and sanding them.
