By Walter Thomas (Tom) Scates

Featured photo is the actual burning of the Scates home in 1945, Clifton CO.

1945: When I was 4 years old, our house in Clifton, Colorado caught fire on December 20th (address unknown).

My memory is that I looked up and saw fire licking up from the living room heating stove (the theory at
the time was that the Christmas tree caught fire). Our mother had left my brother Tim (2-years old) and I
in the living room, while she dashed to the grocery store a block away for something. I remember seeing
the fire, and admonishing Tim that we needed to get out of there. I went out the back door, ran around
the house and across the street to the neighbors. I remember looking out their front room window and
seeing the flames licking up into the sky. I kept hiding my eyes from the sight and then taking another
look. Unfortunately, Tim suffered third degree burns on his face and shoulders. He was in the hospital
until he recovered enough to go home. We moved to 3222 E-1/2 Rd, Clifton, CO  81504 after the fire.