By Patricia Breakey
WALTON _ Two teenagers allegedly admitted setting a fire on the Delaware County Fairgrounds that destroyed the 4-H horse barn Sunday.
Delaware County District Attorney Richard Northrup said the teens were taken into custody by an off-duty police officer as they attempted to wade across the West Branch of the Delaware River across from the fairgrounds.
The Walton Police Department arrested a 16-year-old male from Walton and a 17-year-old male from Trout Creek on Sunday night.
Each was charged with fourth-degree arson, arraigned before Judge Paul Laauser and remanded to Delaware County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail. They are to reappear before Laauser on Wednesday for a felony hearing.
The 4-H horse barn is owned by the Delaware Valley Agricultural Society, which is the governing board for the Delaware County Fair. The barn, which measured 50 feet by 100 feet, was destroyed. It was used for decades to provide stalls for horse shows throughout the summer, as well as during fair week, according to fire officials.
Delaware County Fair Director Danny Hodge said Monday the barn was insured, but the insurance will not cover the replacement cost, which has been tentatively estimated at $100,000.
"It was probably one of the oldest building on the grounds," Hodge said. "Unfortunately, the insurance policy was written years ago and was carried over without updating the coverage."
Hodge said there were 20 to 30 stalls in the barn, which will add to the building cost. He added that there was also a lot of equipment stored in the building.
"We know we lost all the new horse jump gates for the horse show and a new hand washing and sanitizing station," Hodge said. "Those items alone run into thousands of dollars and it will be a while before we can inventory everything that was lost."
Fair Director Niles Wilson was going through the debris and ashes Monday sorting out metal and starting the clean-up operation, Hodge said.
Hodge said there we also a number of electric poles and lines that are owned by the fair that will need to be replaced.
"We are already getting a lot of support from the community," Hodge said. "There are plans underway to help offset the costs and we hope to find a corporate sponsor to help rebuild the barn." Hodge said he has read the police report, but thus far, he doesn't know how the fire was started.
Northrup said the teen readily admitted their responsibility for the fire.
The fairgrounds were not in use Sunday and there were no horses in the barn, Walton First Assistant Chief Erwin LaTourette said.
Patricia Breakey can be reached at 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com.
