NOTE: This is an expanded version of a story first published on July 12, 2019. 

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Within hours of a fire that destroyed a 55-year-old barn at Long Meadowbrook Horse Farm during the early morning of July 11, a gofundme campaign had been launched by Newtown resident Deana Rohan and a collection for clothing, accessories, and other items had also been launched by Lisa Lavach, who lives near the farm.

The immediate support of neighbors, friends, clients, and even strangers has both overwhelmed and helped the family who lived at and operated their business out of that barn for more than a decade.

Evelyn Hanlon leases the barn at 34 Meadowbrook Road and operates her business out of it. Long Meadow Horse Farm provides stables for horses, along with staff that feeds, turns out, and provides water and general care for the animals.

Ms Hanlon and two of her adult children also lived in the apartment attached to the barn.

Susan Seavey, who lived in that apartment, said her mother woke up early last Thursday morning after hearing one of the horses in the barn.

“She said ‘Suzy, the horses are going crazy,’” Ms Seavey recalled last Friday afternoon. When the women realized what was happening, she said, they woke Ms Seavey’s brother — who also lived in the apartment— and all three went into the barn to begin getting the horses out.

Lou Winter, who also lives at the property, quickly joined the effort. Mr Winter also called 911.

Eleven horses, along with ducks, chickens, one dog, and one cat all escaped the inferno without injury.

Helen Wigzell praised the efforts of all four.

“Everyone walked away fine, which is amazing,” said Ms Wigzell, who boards her horse at the farm. She learned about the fire, she said, when she received a call at 5:45 am July 11 from Shelly Martinez, another daughter of Ms Hanlon, informing her that the barn was burning at that time.

“They were there to care for those animals,” Ms Wigzell added, “and they did it a lot better than many of us would have if we were in a burning building.”

Fundraising Underway

Deana Rohan set a $2,000 goal for the online fundraiser that would “help our neighbors with anything they need,” she posted as part of the fund’s description. 

A relatively new resident to town who said she hadn’t been to the barn nor even met those who lived in its apartment, Ms Rohan took the initiative because the online crowdfunding platform is, she felt, “the best way to get money to people following disasters like that.

“I saw that there wasn’t a link available, so I started one,” she said. “I don’t know them; I haven’t been to the farm. I’m just a neighbor, and I wanted to do something to help.

“I will transfer the fund to the owners of the farm once I hear from them,” she added. “I will transfer the entire ownership to them.”

The fundraiser quickly gained traction, reaching $980 shortly before noon Thursday. Ms Rohan was not surprised.

“We have a really nice town, and this whole slogan of ‘Nicer In Newtown’ is true,” she said.

As of 9 am Friday, July 12, the fund has surpassed $4,500 and was still trending. By Wednesday, July 17, the fund had surpassed $6,100 and continued trending. 

The fundraiser can be found by searching for “Our neighbors at Long Meadow Farms need help!” at gofundme.com.

Items Being Accepted

According to a thread started July 11 by Lisa Lavach in the Facebook group Newtown Neighbors Unite, residents can also help those displaced by the fire with direct donations of clothing.

Acomment from Diana Dorta at 5:46 pm Thursday offered “a beginning list.”

The request includes size 14 boy’s jeans; size 14 girl’s underwear; women’s jeans (size 6), underwear (size 6), and socks (size 7-8); and men’s jeans (size 32-34), shirts (large), and socks (size 9).

Ms Dorta’s comment concluded with the note:

“Thank you everyone for your support — please stop by and say hi — and the [sic] we appreciate everyone.

“Although the barn is no longer here — we are.

“Signed

“Evelyn & Shelly and the rest of the Long Meadow family.”

Gift cards for such items would also be accepted, another note indicated.

Following Ms Lavach’s note about the fire and an alert that help would be needed, many Facebook users immediately offered space and supplies for horses, including some within a few miles of Long Meadow Farm; furniture; and utensils, among other items.

Ms Lavach lives diagonally across the street from the farm. She and Susan Seavey each told The Newtown Bee on Friday afternoon, July 12, that donations should be delivered to Ms Lavach’s home.

Items can be dropped in front of the garage of Ms Lavach’s Pine Tree Hill home. When turning from Meadowbrook onto Pine Tree, Ms Lavach’s is the first house on the right.

“We just don’t have anywhere to keep things right now,” Ms Seavey said. “The outpouring has been amazing. The community has been freaking amazing. Just today, someone sold my mother a 2004 Jeep for $1.

“Agway brought us hay and feed, our hay guy also dropped off a load of hay, and Tractor Supply brought us supplies to build temporary shelters,” she said. “It’s not just people in the community — it’s businesses also are behind us.

“There is a lot of humanity here, and it’s nice to see on a first-hand basis,” she said.

Ms Seavey’s sister agreed.

“I really can’t get over the kindness and compassion of this community,” Ms Martinez said.

Family friend Cheryl Dorta was at the farm the afternoon of July 12.

“They need everything,” she said. “They need new living situations, and they need everything from clothing to toiletries.”

Nikki Cassano, who boards her horse at Long Meadow, was also at the farm that afternoon.

“The Newtown community can rally like nobody else,” she said. “Even strangers that have nothing to do with the horse world have come by with clothing. It really restores your faith.”

As of last week, all three of those who had been living in the apartment were staying at different locations.

“We’re not together right now,” Ms Seavey said. “It’s very awkward.”

The family’s dog was being cared for by one friend, and their cat, Lucille — who was missing for 12 hours after the fire, before casually emerging from nearby woods and walking across one of the horse rings Thursday evening — is staying with another friend.

“When people ask what I want, I just want this back,” she said, gesturing toward her former home. “I want us all back together, and I want to make sure my mom is okay.”

Earlier this week, an RV showed up at the farm.

“Somebody donated an RV for us, so my mom and I are now able to stay here again,” Ms Seavey said, July 17.

The Fire

Firefighters responded to Long Meadow Horse Farm just before 5 am Thursday, July 11. The first firefighters to the scene encountered flames that were reaching 50 feet high at times. The full width of the 5,000-square-foot barn, which included the 927-square-foot apartment, was fully engulfed.

Neighbors quickly emerged from their homes, making sure the residents of 34 Meadowbrook were safe, and then offered immediate help with blankets, food, and comfort.

Patti Goldbach and her husband live across the road from the barn. They were among those to run outside early Thursday morning after viewing what she described as “flames like I’ve never seen before. I felt sick,” she said a short time later.

That afternoon, she was still stunned at her neighbors’ loss.

“No words for what happened,” Mrs Goldbach said.

Newtown Deputy Fire Marshal Steve Murphy said on July 12 that the cause may not be found.

“I can narrow it down to an area near the center of the barn, near a water spigot, but obviously that was not the cause,” he said.

“Was it near that? Was it an outlet? Extension cords? We know there were some fans running,” he added. “I can tell you it wasn’t a lot of things, but I can’t tell you what it was.”

There were no signs, the fire marshal said, of arson.

There was small damage to a camper parked near the barn, Mr Murphy said, and also to two cars.

The total estimated loss, he said, is approximately $300,000.

Rebuilding Begins

By late afternoon Friday, July 12, a temporary run-through had been constructed in one of the farm’s fields. Two more were constructed within a few days.

Saying the run-through would provide protection for horses from sun and rain, Susan Seavey on July 12 said the run-through had been built from pallets, pig wire, and tarp, “and a lot of manual labor and love.”

“Pinterest,” her sister Shelly added, “is a wonderful thing.”

Martin Ouimet, who was part of the building effort, said he found that the design being used was one of the fastest and easiest ways to construct the shelter.

“It’s already making a difference,” he said. “Standing underneath, in the shade, I feel refreshed already.”

Nearby, Nikki Cassano felt that the shelter would help Long Meadow Horse Farm’s owners buy a little bit of time.

“Most of us with horses here want them to stay here,” she said. “That’s the hope, the goal. The trauma of losing their home was bad. We don’t want to think about them losing each other.”

A few yards to the west, the 11 horses who board at the stable were calmly grazing in the field.

“We’re playing for time, but I think it’s going to work out,” Ms Cassano added. “Day by day, we’re going to do this.”