Community will long remember church fire
"What were you doing when the big MB church burned?" is a question Hillsboroans will ask each other for years to come.
One year ago on March 7, 2004, small puffs of white smoke drifted out of the roof and east side of the sanctuary of Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church before erupting in a blaze of fire which burned and smoldered for several days. When the smoke cleared, the building was a total loss.
Marion County Emergency Services received a call at 3:49 p.m. from members of Kansas Mennonite Men's Chorus who were practicing at the church.
Local resident Ron Warkentin was walking by the church at approximately 3:30 p.m. when he saw smoke coming from the church's chimney.
"It just seemed like a minor fire," said Warkentin.
His thoughts were echoed by many in the crowd who gathered to watch firefighters fight the clouds of smoke coming from the sanctuary. The smoke became an inferno which spread from the sanctuary to the bell tower and education wing of the church, consuming the building.
Firefighters from Marion, Durham, Goessel, Peabody, county townships, Galva, Canton, McPherson, Newton, Lincolnville, Lehigh, and others arrived to help battle the blaze.
Fire crews strung hoses, end to end, for several blocks to make a chain of water from numerous fire hydrants to the church. Traffic was diverted in a two- to three-block radius around the scene. More than one million gallons of water were used Sunday.
To add confusion to the situation, Pastor Bruce Porter was out of town and attempts to reach him were unsuccessful. Rod Jost, youth minister for the church, finally heard from Porter on Tuesday.
In addition to the loss of the church, Bev Harms' home south of the church was severely damaged and later razed. Other homes in the area reported minor damage. Between 30 and 40 residents were displaced due to electrical service being disconnected to their homes. Houses in the surrounding area were emptied of possessions in case the fire spread.
Firefighters and city personnel assisted church members with removal of salvageable items from the basement and office areas of the building. Many of the items were stored in the former Vogt's IGA store across the street from the church.
March 10 firefighting crews still were battling the fire on the north side of the education building, and disbelieving residents still were coming to watch the smoldering ruins.
Residents gathered at the site to watch, tell stories, and share memories. The sight of the burning church seemed to mesmerize the community.
The official cause of the fire was listed as "undetermined" by the state fire marshal's office. The site was released March 11 and the demolition process began. By mid-morning walls of the sanctuary were down.
The church's insurance provider declared the $2.3 million facility a total loss and the congregation of Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church began the long process of rebuilding.
The original church building was built in 1949 with an addition in 1958. The impressive structure had the capacity to seat up to 1,000 people and a membership of 670.
By the evening of March 8, the homeless congregation had a new "church" building. Hillsboro school superintendent Gordon Mohn told the board of education that Brown Gym and cafeteria facilities had been offered to Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church for programs and worship. According to Mohn, the congregation could use USD 410's facilities for up to two years.
All that remains of the former Mennonite Brethren Church building is the brick and stone welcome plaque and the time capsule.
One week following the devastating fire, 570 people attended Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church services in Brown Gym.
