Ellison Bay Disaster Community Portal

By Adam Aaro | Source: WBAY.com

Note: In the video, WBAY erroneously reports the buildings at Cedar Grove Resort were not rebuilt. The duplex which exploded and claimed the lives of Patrick and Peggy Higdon has indeed been rebuilt.

CLICK FOR VIDEO — The opening of the Pioneer General Store in Ellison Bay is just another sign that the town is getting back to normal after a propane line caused a deadly explosion just under a year ago.

The explosion happened around 2:30 a.m. of July 10th. Two people were killed in the blast and three buildings were destroyed, including structures on the Cedar Grove Resort and the Pioneer General Store.

The General Store was a Door County landmark, standing for over 100 years before the explosion forced the owners to tear it down.

But today, a new era begins for the store. Residents welcome back what some call the heart of the community.

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Source: WBAY.com

One of Ellison Bay’s oldest landmarks is set to reopen in about a month.

The Pioneer Store, the only general store in town, was one of three buildings destroyed in a propane explosion last July.

But now crews are working to rebuild the store in the old store’s likeness.

“I remember how much my husband really wanted this store and it kind of encouraged me to go back into it too so that’s why I wanted it to look the same too,” said store owner Carol Newman.

The new Pioneer Store, which contractors hope to have open by early July, does look the same on the outside. The inside, however, will be different.

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Ellison Bay Building To Be Razed Next Week; Highway 42 to be reopened next week

WFRV-TV (Original story with photos here)

(WFRV) ELLISON BAY, Wis. The Liberty Grove Town Board held a special emergency board meeting Friday afternoon regarding the Ellison Bay disaster.

A severed underground liquid propane line caused Monday’s explosions that killed two vacationers, injured seven others, wrecked three buildings and virtually closed down this tiny tourist town in Door County.

The town board has decided to fence-in the Cedar Grove Resort, where two of the three buildings are located, while the investigation continues.

The town will also demolish the third building that was wrecked, the historic Pioneer Store, possibly on Tuesday.

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Ellison Bay Photo Gallery, from Green Bay Press-Gazette. 22 photos.