Brookneal Milling Company destroyed by fire

Less than a dozen people are out of a job tonight after a local milling company was completely destroyed by fire on Friday night. Fire officials don’t have a cause for the fire yet, but they do believe it was accidental.

Brookneal Milling Company in Campbell County has served the community for more than 100 years. On Friday night, firefighters were called to the scene at 8:30 p.m. and worked for almost 12 hours to put out the flames.

It was still smoldering on Saturday morning and firefighters were there to keep water on the building’s remains to prevent the fire from breaking out again.

“Everything was a total loss,” said Chief Dean Guthrie.

One loyal customer got her last order filled on Saturday morning- 24 bags of feed for her horses. She also saw the flames on Friday.

“There was no way to save it, absolutely no way. Once the wood started to burn and the corn dust, it was going to go,” said Tracy Meisenbach.

Chief Guthrie added, “It was extremely hot. It was a lot of difficulty putting it out the way it was constructed.“

The milling company didn’t take up much space on Old Main Street, but it was still a big staple in the farming community, selling 12,000 tons of feed a year.

Family members tell us the Wydners bought the place 60 years ago.

“A place that represented a way of life and a value system that the Wydners held very strong and dear to them,” said Amanda Wydner.

Family members say right now, the owners need to figure out what to do from here. Loyal customers say, whatever it is, they’ll be glad to help.

It’s a community that’s been defined by the mill.

“It’s been steady. It’s been here throughout the depression. It gives longevity to the town. It’s kinda like a rock you lean against,” said Meisenbach.

Now they’ll help each other out as workers try to find another job and farmers find another resource.