Historic General Store burns; again!

[JasonW]

Very sad story for the town of Putney, VT and all the Craftsman that worked so hard to help restore one of the last Historic Buildings in this little Vermont town.

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Historical Society mulls options
By HOWARD WEISS-TISMAN

PUTNEY -- From almost the first day after a fire destroyed the top two floors of the Putney General Store in May 2008, community organizers vowed to rebuild the town’s historic commercial center.

The Putney Historical Society, the group that would eventually purchase the property and help raise the money to reopen the store, was close to raising the funds needed to complete the project.

But in the wake of Sunday’s devastating fire, nobody was making any promises about the store’s future.

"Everything is up in the air," said Putney Historical Society member and project manager Lyssa Papazian while walking to Town Hall to make calls and go over documents Monday. "We really don’t know what this means. We are going to have to get together and regroup. There is nothing left."

A four-alarm fire completely destroyed the Putney General Store Sunday night.

Papazian said the first phase of the project was completed and there was an upgraded electrical system, but little else in the vacant building.

As bad as the 2008 fire was, the store’s original timbers were spared and the building’s footprint, including the stone basement, was largely intact.

But the blaze Sunday completely destroyed the building, which recently received a new roof, leaving only a cleaned-out shell when the blaze tore through the property late Sunday.

The Full Story @ http://www.reformer.com/localnews/ci_13699352

[Silvertree]

Man, that's sad. Not even done with the first one.

[JasonW]

Despite the fire The Putney Historic Society vows to rebuild.

http://www.putneygeneralstore.org/

[Silvertree]

Freedom and Unity, and ready to rebuild. Gotta love the people of Vermont:2thumbsup:

[JasonW]

Society, Trust add to reward in store blaze
By HOWARD WEISS-TISMAN

PUTNEY -- After concluding their investigation, the Vermont State Police has determined that the fire that destroyed the Putney General Store last week was intentionally set.

The department also announced Monday that a $15,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in the arson.

Information on the fire can be left for Detective Sgt. Fred Cornell at the Vermont State Police at 802-257-7101, or on the State Police Arson Tip Line, 800-32-ARSON.

The reward money was raised through the tip program and through the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and includes $2,500 contributed by the Putney Historical Society and $2,500 from the Preservation Trust of Vermont.

The Historical Society voted to add the money to the state Vermont Arson Tip Reward program to try to convince anyone with information about the blaze to come forward.

"We feel strongly that this needs to be solved," said Putney Historical Society member Lyssa Papazian. "We agreed as a board to put up the money."

A late night fire destroyed the Putney General Store on Nov. 1, just months before the historical society was getting ready to reopen the store after the previous fire of May 3, 2008.

Two days after the fire earlier this month, the historical society voted to continue its work to rebuild.

Papazian said that while everyone working on the project was shaken by the fire, support for the project and for the Putney Historical Society has been overwhelming.

The group’s Facebook page grew from having 400 members before the fire to more than 1,300, many of whom are adding their stories about the general store from all around the country.

And a special fund raising event is being planned for Nov. 20 at the Putney United Church with Eric Bass of Sandglass Theater.

More than 100 people showed up for a candlelight vigil Friday on the lawn across from the Putney General Store site.

A fence has gone up around the site and workers are hauling away the burned timbers and remains.

Papazian said the group has been working with its insurance company and it is probably still going to be a while before the members know how realistic it is going to be to try to rebuild the store.

The doors from the store were in the Town Hall basement during the fire and some of the original wide floor boards were pulled up and saved during the recent renovations.

They are still safe in a barn, along with the counter and some of the historic artifacts that hung on the store’s wall before the first fire.

Meanwhile Papazian said the society is encouraging people to join the group, to help raise funds and to show support.

"We’re still moving forward and hoping all the details fall into place. If we can’t rebuild something similar we’ll rebuild something. We’ll see," Papazian said. "If everyone joins this will become everyone’s project."

People who want to join the Putney Historical Society should send $15 to: Putney Historical Society, Box 233, Putney, VT 05346.

Howard Weiss-Tisman can be reached at hwtisman@reform-er.com or 802-254-2311, ext. 279.

http://www.reformer.com/localnews/ci_13751305

[Absolute Basements]

What a bummer.