A house fire in St. Michael has badly damaged one of the community’s oldest homes and displaced a family that is considered one of the community’s cornerstones.
St. Michael Fire and Rescue and St. Michael Fire Department personnel knocked down the blaze quickly, but not before of the home of Karol and Elmer Eichelberg was badly damaged on the main level. Alarms were actually sounded by first responders who were at the St. Michael Fire Station on Main Street, which is directly across the street from the Eichelberg home at 22o Main St., around 7 p.m. Thursday, May 4.
The cause is unknown. The Eichelbergs, who have lived in the home for decades, were at dinner at the time of the fire. No one was hurt.
Crews were still on scene at 9:30 p.m. Thursday performing “mop up” duty. Both St. Michael and Albertville firefighters were checking the main walls and ceiling between the main level and second floor of the home.
The home is in Historic Downtown of St. Michael, and was constructed in 1900, according to county records.
Elmer Eichelberg served as a city council member, mayor and was a longtime teacher in the St. Michael community. Karol also taught at local schools. Elmer, who served on the Wright County Commission through three decades, remains a civil servant as part of the county park board. He’s also a delegate for the local Republican Party.
The two were named “Official Holiday Cheermesiter” for the 2013 St. Michael Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremonies, and were also chairs of the St. Michael Daze and Knights Parade the following year.
