The Reymann family fondly remembers two of our uncles, known for their high jinks, rambunctiousness and boisterous personalities, Charles and Salome’s sons, Clete and Clem, born March 21, 1922.
When recalling family lore, many have referenced recollections as “before the fire” or “after the fire”, fittingly placing that event as pivotal in the Reymann history.
Please enjoy reading this excerpt from The Reymann Family in Twentieth Century America, written in 1989.
“Of all the activities during the first decade at 403 Canton Road, the one most clearly etched in everyone’s memory is “The Fire”. Both Clete and Clem, to this day, claim their intentions were honorable. The 3-year old twins had heard their mother say she wanted the papers removed from the outhouse and they simply tried to comply. However, an older brother remembers it differently: “Those imps were playing with matches in the crapper.” Although not the standard approach, the twin’s method for paper removal certainly was successful, albeit a bit too successful, as outhouse, 2-story barn, and garage were also removed and the house was placed in serious jeopardy.
Rather than haul the 2-foot high stack of papers from the outhouse, the twins decided to burn them. However, when the fire started burning out of control, they raced to the nearby garage where a 50-gallon spigotted drum of liquid was stored just outside the door. The liquid was kerosene, and when they attempted to douse the flames, it didn’t exactly work as intended. Quickly exiting the outhouse, they saw Helen, who was airing sheets from a corner bedroom window. When she asked them what they were doing, they responded that they were doing a good thing. At least they thought they were. She rescued them and took them to a neighbor.
Fire departments in all the area towns were called, but because they were having territorial disputes, none would come. Fearing the house, which was attached to the now burning garage and barn, would soon burn, everyone quickly began removing furniture to the front yard. Always quick thinking, especially in a crisis, Mom took Pop’s case of whiskey, carefully wrapping it in an American flag, and cleverly sent it to a “temperance” neighbor. Seeing the flames begin to lick at the back of the house, she then, with a relic of St. Anthony in hand, knelt in the yard and prayed for the wind to turn. Miraculously, it did, and the house, though singed, was saved.
General Tire also came to the rescue by sending their fire equipment to extinguish the flames from the barn and the garage. By that time it was too late to save them, and they were later replaced. When the children at school received word of the fire, they rushed home to find the fire out and all the furniture on the lawn.
Asked if they were punished for their deed, the twins recalled that they were not THAT time because the fire was an accident. However, a few days later when caught lighting matches inside the house, they were “tanned”.”