116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Breitbach's and another fire
Breitbach's restaurant in 1991
In August 1976 The Gazette reported on another fire in Balltown.
Lightening struck St. Francis Catholic Church's steeple. The resulting fire gutted the brick and frame structure. The parishioners found a temporary home in a one-time body shop furnished with a hodge-podge of seating options, including bleachers from the ball diamond.
By March 1977, spirits had revived enough to hold a fundraiser for a new church. The event was "Hog Sunday" held at Breitbach Brothers General Store. Eight hogs were donated to the event; seven of them barbecued for the feast and one raffled off to the best guesser of the hog's weight. The winner was St. Francis' pastor, Father Robert L. Kalb.
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