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Washington County Barn Thrashed By High Winds

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Jun 17, 2009 5:21 pm US/Eastern

Washington County Barn Thrashed By High Winds

AVELLA (KDKA) ― Bob Briggs, 65, is a dairy farmer.

He also earned the Silver Star and three Purple Hearts serving in Vietnam.

He's going to need all that toughness – his barn has been destroyed for the third time.

High winds whipped the galvanized steel roof off Briggs' barn like it was tin foil, moving it from its foundation at least 20-feet on one end. It's left this dairy farmer feeling a lot like Job. Why does he keep doing it?

"Well it's a - it's an intellectual deficiency," he jokes.

The smile belies the heartbreak beneath. This mess was enough to make you wonder if this bit of God's country in Washington County attracts bad luck.

Just a few month back Griff Briggs stood looking at the ruin of their burned barn. "I thought I was on fire when I opened the gates to let the cows out."
 
A serial arsonist set fire to the Briggs barn – all but two of their dairy cows were killed. In 1980 another arsonist struck.

Today, looking at what the winds had done, Bob mused, "And we had anticipated spending the rest of our lives here."

The family was only about 2 weeks away from being back in the dairy business when the storm struck. Now Bob and his two sons are saddled with rebuilding again from the ground up.

Over the past few months they've invested at least $80,000 in materials. They had no insurance. "In mid-construction we thought when we're done we would insure it."

Along with rebuilding, they also have to raise acres of hay, wheat and corn to be ready for a new herd.

"You know agriculture isn't really like most businesses – it's more of a religion."

Bob, being a stubborn man is reluctant to ask for help. "How can you ask neighbors to help more than they already have?" he says.

But neighbor Steve Fodor is ready: "Lock, stock and barrel, 100-percent!"
If you believe that bad things come in threes, Bob Briggs is about due for a stretch of good luck.

In the meantime he'll be busy.

"It keeps you off the street corners and out of the pool rooms," he said. 

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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