Published: June 05, 2008 09:28 am      

Quick action saves historic building from fire damage

Richmond Police Cpl. Tim Craft was driving on patrol at 4:21 a.m. Wednesday when he noticed smoke coming from an historic building at the corner of West Main Street and Parrish Avenue next to St. Mark Catholic Church.

He called the Richmond Fire Department, and firefighters arrived in a matter of minutes from their station about eight blocks away, said Richmond Fire Chief Gerald Tatum.

“Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze and only minor damage was done,” he said.

Tatum was prepared to release few details except that the fire started inside the building, damage was “minor” and an arson investigation is under way.

“It was definitely set,” he said.

According to a review of local architecture published in 1988 by the Madison County Historical Society, the former residence was built about 1890. It was the home of Mrs. James R. Burnam until her death in 1944.

She bequeathed it to the Richmond Woman’s Club, which for many years used it for meetings and to house its library.

In more recent years, it was used as a studio to teach ballet.

The Woman’s Club still owns the building and had been searching the past five years for a buyer who would not demolish it, said Woman’s Club member Paula Mauck.

“I’m just heartsick,” Mauck said. “We had just found someone who was willing to purchase and renovate the house. We hoped to close on it this month.”

The building is “one of the many jewels of our community that is often overlooked,” said Philip Seyfrit, historical society president described. “I would like to commend the Richmond police and fire departments for their quick action to safe this historic structure.”

The historical society survey, complied by Lavinia Kubiak, praised the building’s Queen Anne styling, domed turret, gabled roof and distinctive windows.

The windows’ upper sashes have 20 panes while the lower sashes are single pane.

Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 623-1669, Ext. 267.