Maud Family Optimistic After

Losing House and Store to Fire

"Good things come out of stuff like this," said Keith Harrison, standing in what used to be Keith’s Country Store.

Keith can hold in one hand the things he’s salvaged from the pile of still-smoking debris: a few coins, a tool or two, and a pocketknife.

Surprisingly optimistic, only a day after his house and store burned to the ground, Keith is already talking about the future.

"The store will be reopened as soon as I can get a new copy of my tax permit," he said.

Until he can rebuild, the bait shop will be in a smaller, nearby building.

Located east of Maud on EW 130, Keith’s Country Store has supplied the bait, sinkers and lures for much of the fishing in that area, while Keith and his family provide plenty of good cheer, no matter what the circumstances.

Keith pointed to a hill farther from the road. "We’ll try to build a new house out there," he said.

But first, the family has to clear away the debris of their old home.

Maud Police Chief Shawn Seeney said the people of Maud are already moving to help the Harrisons.

"Every year, the Harrisons put on a haunted house, to raise money that they donate to the schools," Seeney said.

"Over the last several years, they’ve donated thousands of dollars."

"They’re outstanding people in this community.

"They simply lost everything. There was nothing left but ashes."

Several thousand dollars’ worth of merchandise burned with the store, besides all the family’s clothes, food, blankets, beds, kitchenware, books, etc.

Keith said that he and his father, Bill Harrison, were at a neighbor’s house on Monday morning.

"I looked down here and saw a big puff of smoke, and thought it was too big for our stove pipe," Keith said.

"So we booked it down here.

"I tried to go in one door, but I was met by thick smoke.

"I kicked in the back door, and all I saw was a wall of flames."

Fortunately, the Harrisons were able to save two vehicles that had been parked near the house, even the car that doesn’t start very regularly.

Keith’s mother went next door to call 911, but the system kept disconnecting their call, she said.

Finally, they gave up on 911, and called Gloria Stalnaker, city clerk for Maud, who called 911 for them.

Keith said Seeney was the first one on the scene, followed quickly by Ed Lemmings and Mike Debtor of Seminole’s Fire Department.

Randy Horn and Travis Palmer, volunteer firefighters in Maud, also showed up.

"By that time, though, there was nothing they could do," Keith said, shrugging.

Authorities believe the fire’s cause was electric in nature, some even suggesting that squirrels may have chewed through wires in the Harrison’s attic.

Whatever the cause, the fire burned hot and fast, melting nickels in Keith’s cash register, burning through the stovepipe, buckling steel shelves and turning window panes into putty.

The tire on a nearby trailer completely disintegrated from the heat, and a tarpaulin over a tractor 30 feet away melted against the metal casing it covered.

The tower of Keith’s computer was a lump of smoking plastic and metal, and the refrigerator slumped to one side, misshapen from the heat.

Tuesday afternoon, the northwestern corner of the Harrison garage was still smoking, and once burst into flames. Keith and his sister moved quickly to spray it with the hose, dousing the last bits of the fire.

Standing near the garage, Keith’s sister remembers the spot where she received a marriage proposal.

"That’s the bad thing here," she said. "We were raised in that house. There were a lot of memories in there."

When he was informed of Maud’s effort to help his family, Keith nodded. "There are good people around here," he said.

"They’re always helping people out."

Anyone wishing to donate items to assist the Harrisons can call the Maud Police Department at (405) 374-2235. or click on the link below. We thank Everyone for their supoort at this difficult time.

Keith’s Country Store, owned and operated by Keith Harrison, caught fire and was destroyed along with the Harrison home and garage on Nov. 24.

With the coordinating help of Maud’s Police Department, the people of the community pulled together to resupply the family with needed items.

Keith’s mother, Carol Harrison, said, "The people of both Maud and Seminole have been so good to us.

"We need to say how great these people are."

The burned rubble of the old house and store has been cleared away, and the new is on its way.

Keith said that a trailer home was scheduled to arrive Saturday, and that someone had already donated a house-full of furniture to the Harrisons.

"We’ve got plenty of clothes and food, now," Keith added.

"I knew the people around here would want to help; they’re good people."

Keith’s Country Store will be temporarily located in another building on the property.

Keith said it would have been opened sooner, but he had to get a new copy of his tax permit, as well as rebuilding a supply of bait and other fishing supplies.

He plans to continue making his homemade lures and sinkers that have become well known to fishermen in the area.

Many thanks to Mr Wil C. Fry of The Seminole Producer giving me permission to use the above articles.

Im sure everyone that knows The Harrisons will join me in wishing them best wishes for the future with rebuilding their home and Keiths Kountry Store! God bless!