BOSTON, N.Y. — The owners of a beloved local farm say they will rebuild and continue the good work they've been doing since losing their horse barn in a fire Monday morning.
Jay Braymiller the owner of Stillwater Farm in Boston and his family were woken up around 3:00 a.m. to the barn behind their home engulfed in flames.
Their first thought he said was their two horses (one miniature), three goats, two pigs, and one donkey inside the burning building.
"We ran around and came in through the back," Braymiller said.
He and his family ran into the flames to save the animals. The flames were too large at the front entrance where it is believed an electrical issue caused the fire.
“Inside the barn, you couldn’t see your hands in front of your face so we searched around feeling for them," Braymiller recalled.
Searching only by touch they ultimately got every animal out including pigs, Eleanor and Penny Lane.
The whole experience has been shocking Braymiller said for his family and many others who have come to know the farm for the charitable work they do. Through their non-profit C.A.R.E at Stillwater, they've hosted picnics and farm visits for kids and their families dealing with pediatric cancer.
"We didn’t do that expecting that we someday would be looking for a hand also," Braymiller said.
Since the fire, Braymiller said their family has received a lot of support from the community.
On top of their work with kids battling cancer, the farm also hosts farm dinners for the public to raise money for that work.
"Times like this, you find out you've made a lot of good decisions in your life and how you treat people. Not expecting anything in return but we are so grateful and thankful for this wonderful community that we are a part of," said Braymiller.
At the back of his property, Braymiller pointed out an orchard where each tree marks a child lost to pediatric cancer. He added that the fire won't affect plans to bring families fighting cancer back, to relax and remember.
While the horse barn was a focal point at the farm for those visits and a lot of memories were made in it, a new structure can be built and new memories made.
"We have had so many wonderful moments with our guests and the children in this barn and that’s what we’re remembering now," Braymiller said.
The fire also won't affect this year's farm dinner series.