The president of a decades-old Sauk City hardware store destroyed by fire Monday night pledged to rebuild.
John McFarlane, president of McFarlane Manufacturing Co., which includes McFarlanes’ True Value hardware store and a large customer and farming community service area, issued a statement Tuesday after a fire destroyed the store and service area.
“Everyone here at McFarlanes’ is blown away by the immediate outpouring of support we’ve received from the community,” McFarlane said.
“We not only plan to rebuild after this unfortunate circumstance, but we are doing everything we can to restore immediate service to our customers and provide the services they’ve come to expect for three generations,” he said.
The main storefront’s second floor appeared to be completely gutted by the fire. The parking lot in front of the store was partially flooded because of the massive amount of water firefighters poured onto the structure.
McFarlanes’ has been in business in Sauk City since 1918.
The manufacturing area of the complex, which specializes in farm implements, was not affected by the fire, which started at 10:52 p.m. Monday and wasn’t contained until about 4 a.m. Tuesday.
A spokesman for the company said there were no damage estimates or a cause determined for the fire.
About a dozen area fire departments fought the three-alarm blaze at the store on Water Street. No one was injured, and no homes were evacuated.
McFarlanes’ has a long tradition in Sauk City and just last weekend hosted its annual McFarnival event in which it opened its doors to the community with a festive atmosphere.
“I hope they rebuild, if that what it has to come to,” said Jeff Davies, who lives across the street from the store. “It was a good place to go for hardware and pretty much everything else. You hate to see the loss of a local business, especially in this day and age."
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