Johnny Cash's home destroyed by fire

Wednesday, April 11, 2007


Johnny Cash and June Carter called the Tennessee wooden house ‘home’ from 1968 to 2003. Fire has destroyed it now. According to Hendersonville, Tenn., officials, the fire was probably caused by a spark that ignited wood preservative fumes at the home of the late Johnny and June Carter Cash. Within three hours of firefighters having been alerted Tuesday, the roof collapsed and flames and smoke billowed from the home, charring trees and grass that surrounded the structure, The (Nashville) Tennessean said. Inside, all that could be seen standing was metal scaffolding. Hendersonville Fire Chief Jamie Steele said the home's multi-leveled design made it difficult for firefighters. Also, the nearest hydrant was several blocks away. “For a firefighter, when you hear unique it's going to be hard. All the things that made it a unique and attractive home made it harder to fight the fire,” Steele said. June Carter Cash died in May 2003 and Johnny Cash died a few months later, in September. The home is now owned by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees. It was going through renovations when the merciless fire broke out. One firefighter suffered minor injuries. All the workmen escaped the flames. The local newspaper, The Hendersonville Star News, quoted a fire official as saying that the fire probably started when fumes from a wood preservative being used in the renovations were ignited by a spark. According to the Nashville Tennessean, the house was the scene of numerous legendary jams with Cash, Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, and newer-generation country stars like Vince Matthews and Larry Gatlin. The house also featured in the famous video for Cash's version of the Nine Inch Nails song “Hurt.” The property was purchased by Barry Gibb in January last year. Gibb and his wife, Linda, had said they planned to restore the home on Old Hickory Lake and hoped to write songs there. They had not yet moved in to the home, which they bought for a reported $2.3m (€1.7m). Gibb’s spokesman, Paul Bloch, said the singer and his family are “both saddened and devastated by the news.” At the time of purchase, Gibb described buying the house as an honor and spoke of his determination to preserve it in honor of its late owners. The Hendersonville Star News said the renovations were in the final stages; the newspaper quoted a friend of Gibbs' as saying that the singer hoped to move in during the summer.

I will be doing a Johnny Cash special today on Barefoot Radio From 2:pm until about 10:pm tonight. Including the one hour radio special.... JOHNNY CASH'S PERSONAL FILE, hope to see you there!

1 comments:

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