A Berrien Springs family that has already had an emotional roller-coaster ride of a year has a new tragedy to deal with just days before what was already going to be an emotional Christmas. A fire has wiped out years of personal memories, but spared a popular market that escaped untouched.
When Al and Dorothy Villwock launched their popular Villwock’s Farm Market just south of Berrien Springs decades ago, they simply walked out the door of their home at Villwock’s farm and started operations literally next door. What started out as little more than a roadside stand, blossomed into a substantial marketplace and popular stopping off point for many residents and visitors alike. It is as popular as ever to this very day, but there is an extreme measure of sadness for the Villwock family today following an early morning fire that destroyed Al & Dorothy’s longtime family home at the corner of Old US 31 and Fairland Road in Berrien Township.
The house was a total loss with little more than a portion of the back porch and the large chimney and fireplace still standing, following the blaze that started just before 2am this morning. Dorothy was the last to live there, but she died this summer back on June 23rd, and the home had been vacant.
Contrary to earlier rumors, Villwock’s Farm Market, which is closed for the winter season, was not damaged by this morning’s fire. The Villwock chicken coop and the garage were also spared in the smoky fire, and the chickens also survived.
Al & Dorothy had operated the farm for more than 60 years, and she and her son Don Villwock had operated the market together in recent years. Don was born and raised in the home that burned early today and is devastated by the loss not only of his birthplace, but everything that was still inside.
The Farm Market posted news of the fire on their Facebook fan page this morning and shared the sadness saying, in part, “We have been thinking a lot of Mom/Granny. She passed away in June and this is our first Christmas without her. Now the house is gone too, along with everything inside. When Dorothy passed away, it was in the midst of Market season. Don couldn’t emotionally deal with the house or the lifetime of possessions, so he decided to hold off and not make plans for the house or its contents. Just recently, Don said he felt ready, with plans to start the process after the holidays. He wanted to start the process alone.”
Nobody was hurt in this morning’s fire, and the cause is listed as uncertain at this time, however it remains under investigation.
Dorothy’s grandson, (and Don’s son) Mike Villwock operates Villwock’s Outdoor Living on the north side of Berrien Springs. He, too, spent much of their upbringing at the market and at his grandparents house next door.
Don Villwock, the market itself and other family members are being swept up today in a huge wave of condolences on social media and beyond as they sift for clues to why the home went up in flames on a cold winter’s night.
