Massachusetts Inn Burns Down
By Margaret Foster | Online Only | Dec. 15, 2009
Lost: 1780 Egremont Inn
Credit: Egremont Inn
Fire broke out at a western Massachusetts inn last Friday, destroying the National Register-listed structure, built in 1780 as a tavern. The Egremont Inn in S. Egremont, Mass., was empty, but one firefighter did suffer minor injuries.
Officials have not yet determined the cause of the five-alarm blaze. Investigators visited the site Tuesday, according to a spokesman at the state fire marshal's office.
After firefighters first brought the blaze under control Friday morning, the flames rekindled, forcing crews to return to the scene twice. An excavator later demolished what was left of the building.
"The fire did cause very extensive damage to the structure itself, so it has made it difficult to conduct a thorough investigation," says State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan. "We're continuing to search through the rubble for any evidence that will lead us to a cause."
The town is "stunned" by the end of the Egremont Inn, says Selectman Richard Burdsall. "It was very popular with the locals, even with the young folks, too. You really feel the loss but you say, well, 200 and some years … we're lucky to have had it so long."
Newer structures are built with fireproofing features that save lives and history, Coan says. "It's not the first time we've seen an inn destroyed in our state," he says. "When you lose one, it is extremely sad. The best method of protection for these old historical buildings is sprinkler systems. There is technology today that allows these building to be retrofitted that isn't intrusive."
The inn's new owners, Robert and Marie Johnson, who live in Connecticut, could not be reached for comment.
"It was very important," says Betty Dureya, chairman of the town's historical commission. "It was our center for years. … It was just beautiful."
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Comments
Submitted by crossword at: January 12, 2010
no comment
Submitted by Disgusted at: December 17, 2009
Of course the owners haven't been around. It's awfully tough to be there while holding time full time jobs an hour away in Suffield, CT...Sprinklers would have defeated their purpose...
Submitted by annoyed at: December 17, 2009
really, the inn's owners couldn't be reached for comment? maybe that's because they haven't been back up to the area since the fire. maybe that's because they both have full time jobs at their full time residence in CT, maybe it's because they don't really care. if your business burned down, wouldn't you want to be involved in figuring out the cause, the clean up, to answer questions, relieve suspicions , gain a better image in the community???
Submitted by Brian at: December 15, 2009
I bet there was a lot of great antique furniture and paintings in there.