BLANCHARDVILLE - When Barb Ryan talked about an emptiness in the village, she referred not only to the loss of a building, but also to the four people who died in the Dec. 21 fire.
Workers began to tear down the Silver Dollar Saloon, the century-old building on Blanchardville's main street, Tuesday. Most of the building, except for a few piles of bricks, was gone by Wednesday afternoon.
The Dec. 21 fire at the well-known business claimed the lives of four people: Daniel Hardekopf, 45; Jelayne L. Hughes, 44; Cody D. Olson, 23; and Brian K. Monte, 34, all of Blanchardville.
The building was a danger to local businesses and residents because the fire made it unstable. Wisconsin 78, which runs in front of the building, was closed for a week after the fire because it was feared the business would collapse. The highway re-opened Tuesday.
Residents in the small community continue to be affected by the fire, Ryan said.
"It's such a tragedy," she said. "There's a feeling of loss."
Shirley Eidsmoe, who works at Husie's Bar and Grill, a few doors down from the building, heard the demolition crew work clean up the area. She knew three of the people who died.
"It's hard to talk about them," she said.
She's lived in Blanchardville for more than 20 years. In a small town, it seems that everyone knows everyone.
"They were all very nice people," she said of the victims. "They had hearts of gold. They were wonderful people.
Hardekopf was a Chicago Bears fan, she recalled. She remembered how much he enjoyed watching his favorite team. The Bears' win Monday against rival Minnesota would have made him smile, she said.
"He's probably loving that," she said, with a faint smile.
The Blanchardville Fire Department was dispatched at 3:23 a.m. Monday after Blanchardville Police Officer Walt Fischer saw flames coming from Silver Dollar Saloon, located at the corner of South Main Street and Elm Street.
Blanchardville, Argyle, New Glarus, Hollandale and Monroe fire departments responded to the scene. Argyle, Hollandale and Green County emergency medical services also assisted at the scene.
Hardekopf and Hughes owned the Silver Dollar Saloon. Monte was an employee at the business.
A report from Virginia Douglas, Lafayette County coroner, indicated all four died of smoke inhalation/carbon monoxide poisoning.
According to the state fire marshal's office, the fire began in an empty area between the second and third stories in the building's center.
There was no evidence that the fire was set and investigators didn't find any evidence of anything suspicious, the Department of Justice statement said.
The cause of the fire is still undetermined.
Workers began to tear down the Silver Dollar Saloon, the century-old building on Blanchardville's main street, Tuesday. Most of the building, except for a few piles of bricks, was gone by Wednesday afternoon.
The Dec. 21 fire at the well-known business claimed the lives of four people: Daniel Hardekopf, 45; Jelayne L. Hughes, 44; Cody D. Olson, 23; and Brian K. Monte, 34, all of Blanchardville.
The building was a danger to local businesses and residents because the fire made it unstable. Wisconsin 78, which runs in front of the building, was closed for a week after the fire because it was feared the business would collapse. The highway re-opened Tuesday.
Residents in the small community continue to be affected by the fire, Ryan said.
"It's such a tragedy," she said. "There's a feeling of loss."
Shirley Eidsmoe, who works at Husie's Bar and Grill, a few doors down from the building, heard the demolition crew work clean up the area. She knew three of the people who died.
"It's hard to talk about them," she said.
She's lived in Blanchardville for more than 20 years. In a small town, it seems that everyone knows everyone.
"They were all very nice people," she said of the victims. "They had hearts of gold. They were wonderful people.
Hardekopf was a Chicago Bears fan, she recalled. She remembered how much he enjoyed watching his favorite team. The Bears' win Monday against rival Minnesota would have made him smile, she said.
"He's probably loving that," she said, with a faint smile.
The Blanchardville Fire Department was dispatched at 3:23 a.m. Monday after Blanchardville Police Officer Walt Fischer saw flames coming from Silver Dollar Saloon, located at the corner of South Main Street and Elm Street.
Blanchardville, Argyle, New Glarus, Hollandale and Monroe fire departments responded to the scene. Argyle, Hollandale and Green County emergency medical services also assisted at the scene.
Hardekopf and Hughes owned the Silver Dollar Saloon. Monte was an employee at the business.
A report from Virginia Douglas, Lafayette County coroner, indicated all four died of smoke inhalation/carbon monoxide poisoning.
According to the state fire marshal's office, the fire began in an empty area between the second and third stories in the building's center.
There was no evidence that the fire was set and investigators didn't find any evidence of anything suspicious, the Department of Justice statement said.
The cause of the fire is still undetermined.