Aug. 3—Authorities are offering up to a $5,000 reward for information on the fire that destroyed a building on a budding farm for youth in Townsend Township.
Construction has begun and was continuing at the animal-assisted learning farm for teenagers at 4418 Medusa Road in rural Huron County.
Donna Hammann, founder of Love Grows Love, a nonprofit running the farm, said around midnight, Aug. 2, a neighbor looked out her window and saw flames fanning from the bottom of the building that was a meeting area for Love Grows Love.
Within a short time, the flames destroyed the building.
A charred pile of remains stands in its place with a metal decorative table and matching chairs strewn about the rumble surrounded by crime tape.
At 7:30 a.m., Aug. 3, Hammann said she arrived on scene to find her building completely gone.
“Nothing is left,” she said.
The state Fire Marshal’s office has launched an investigation into the fire which was ruled an arson, a spokesperson said.
The reward is up to $5,000 for information leading to the conviction of the person or persons responsible, the spokesperson said.
The investigators erected a red and white sign at the property near the roadway announcing the reward.
“It makes me so sad that someone would stoop this low,” Hammann tearfully said. “It’s just such an emotional time.”
The pre-built large shed was delivered earlier this year, and initially was used to store equipment, but recently was utilized as a meeting room.
On the front of the shed were two horseshoes as well as a horse-adorned decoration next to the front door.
On Aug. 2, the group dined on fried chicken with the folks from the Mennonite community who are assisting in the building process, Hammann said.
“We just ate in that building yesterday,” she said.
The building had no electric in it, nor was an accelerant on the property, Hammann said.
John Riley, Hammann’s brother, donated the land where the nonprofit will operate the youth learning program.
“He (Riley) is helping out so much with the stone, the septic and so much more,” she said. “This is just evil.”
The experiential learning farm will include a variety of animals including horses — of all sizes — chickens, goats, dogs and cats, Hammann said.
The family is very grateful that the animals weren’t at the farm, she said.
Hammann said she is encouraged by the investigator’s offer of the reward.
“Somebody knows something, and I hope they come forward,” she said.
“I just don’t understand how people can be so cruel to just not care about other people,” Hammann said. “It’s just sad.”
Anyone with information about the arson, is asked to call the state Marshal’s Office at 800-589-2728 or the Huron County Sheriff’s Office at 419-663-2828.
A spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office wasn’t immediately available for comment Aug. 3.
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