VIGO COUNTY, Ind (WTWO/WAWV) — The Otter Creek Fire Department responded to a fire that destroyed a lifetime of memorabilia at the Rod and Gun Steakhouse near Rosedale Monday night.
The call came in around 10:00 PM and Otter Creek Fire Chief, Brad Stott, said flames were coming through the roof of the restaurant when they arrived on the scene.
“This is a historical place,” Stott said. “A lot of area treasures in here that were lost. But we were able to save some things. The things that were in the far end of the building are pretty well preserved. So, there are things in here that can’t be replaced.”
Bob Johnson, owner of the Rod and Gun Steakhouse, lives in an upstairs apartment and was home when the fire broke out. He recalled the smell of smoke filling his home and the flames he saw coming from the restaurant.
“It was scary. I’ve never seen anything burn so quick. I mean, it went, my, it went fast,” he said.
On Tuesday, Johnson’s daughter dug through the ashes for a lifetime of possessions and keepsakes. “She’s now hunting my brass knuckles and a couple of sterling silver whisky flasks; you carry it in your coat,” he said.
Johnson, now 86 years old, said he’s been making memories at the club for 75 years.
“75 years, yep. I enjoyed it all the years I was running it and working at it.”
WTWO’s Jen Thompson asked Mr. Johnson how he got his start at the Rod and Gun and he said, “I lived about a half mile across the highway and I walked the creek to the river and the old club where it was originally on the creek bank, and I was coming back and I saw a bunch of Cadillac and Lincolns and big cars, guys with black suits, black hats, and I thought it was a gangster hangout of course, so I started hanging around there myself,” Johnson said while chuckling. That’s how I got in,” he added.
Chief Brad Stott said the fire department was able to save part of the building with the help of area fire departments including 19 tankers and two aerials.
“We were able to stop the fire where we did with all that help. Which I think says a lot about the help we got. I was really afraid we were going to lose the whole building there for a little bit,” Stott said.
In the portion saved, Johnson said there are two bars, and when asked if it’s too early to say if they’ll rebuild, he said it’s a potential for his two sons who currently run the club.
“What really bothers me is the memorabilia. You know, I should’ve had all this stuff copied, but I didn’t. So, it’s gone. That’s bad,” Johnson said.
An investigator on scene with the State Fire Marshals office said the fire remains under investigation. The Indiana State Police has also been called in to assist with the investigation.
This story is ongoing, WTWO will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
