Pearson said his department was contacted about 7 p.m. that a home rented by Kelly Taylor and Bobbie Robertson at 10062 Old Olvey Road at the junction with Starkey Road was on fire.
"By the time we got there, it was fully engulfed and there wasn't much we could do except keep it from spreading," said Pearson.
Taylor and Robertson's four children who were also home at the time of the April 5 fire included Stephanie Taylor, 15; Stoney Robertson, 9; Brady Robertson, 7; and Cody Robertson, 5. Pearson said Stoney Robertson received treatment near the scene from North Arkansas Regional Medical Center paramedics for shock and smoke inhalation.
Authorities said a barn/garage attached to the western end of the home also burned and killed the families' one horse, three pigs, two rabbits and a kitten. The family lost almost all of their possessions in the fire, except their vehicles.
Two fire pumpers were dispatched from Harmon, two from Valley Springs and one pumper was sent from the Harrison Fire Department.
"Fortunately we had plenty of water because the Valley Springs Water Department had recently installed a fire hydrant near the house," Pearson said. "But we just didn't have enough time before the fire got out of control."
Ronnie Smith, who owns the home, was contacted by the Times and said he driving to the scene Tuesday from his home in Springfield, Mo. "That makes the fourth property in that general area that I've owned that has burned in the last two years," said Smith. "I've owned that canning factory building for the past 20 years and have rented it out to several families."
The cause of the blaze is still unknown but the Boone County Sheriff's Department has placed yellow tape around the perimeter and are currently investigating the fire, according to Boone County Sheriff Danny Hickman. "We don't yet know what caused the fire but we're looking into it," Hickman said.
Neighbors in Olvey were looking at what was left of the structure Tuesday morning and reminiscing about the days when it was a thriving tomato canning factory which even included a railroad line which shipped out tons of canned tomatoes brought in by local growers.
Ann Wortham, who worked at the factory more than 33 years ago, looked at the burned building and wiped a tear from her eye. "It's sad for me to see it burn because I spent three summers many years ago working at the plant," said Wortham. "You wouldn't know it now but OIvey was once a thriving community. The canning factory, the Olvey Hotel, the school and the railroad kept things alive around here back then."
The blaze also began a string of other emergency events. Residents near the fire lost electricity until after 1:30 a.m. after the power was turned off by the electric company, residents said.
Another nearby resident, Warren Yohn, had to seek alternative methods to power his oxygen tank that he uses to breathe with after his electricity was shut down, according to Suzanne Latta, a neighbor whose children played with the Robertsons and Taylors.
"The fire was just terrible because the family lost everything," said Latta. "I understand the family is now living with her (Bobbie Robertson) mother who lives in Green Forest."
A resident who lives directly across the street from the burned home, John J. Baker, Sr., said he was saddened to see that the home burned. "I'm sorry to see that it burned but I'm glad that it didn't catch our house on fire because we're only about 50 yards away," said Baker, who has lived in his home for 18 years.
Marilyn Smith, who does volunteer work for the Boone County Heritage Museum in Harrison, said her records indicate that the canning factory was purchased by Chester Williams in 1925 and later bought one in Pyatt. "The brand name on their cans read, 'Royal Red Tomatoes," said Smith. "Local farmers in the 1920's and 30's apparently planted large fields of just tomatoes and hauled them to the factory for canning."
Smith said that records indicate the Olvey Canning Factory burned once before probably during the 20's but Chester Williams rebuilt it. "Records say that in 1925, Williams netted $1,200 from the factory and that he went out and bought a brand new Model T sedan with some of the profits for $447. And during World War II, the factory supplied canned tomatoes for the U.S. military."
Ironically, about one-half mile away from the canning factory, the 100-year-old landmark Old Olvey Hotel was destroyed by fire Jan. 27. Pearson said the Harmon Fire Department is currently building a fire substation which will be located about 200 yards from where the canning factory burned.
