A raging four-alarm fire swept through the Morgan-Manning House in Brockport Tuesday night. The Victorian-style mansion, owned by the Western Monroe Historical Society, received severe damage as fire swept through the house.
The fire occurred around 7 p.m. in the basement, which swiftly spread to the attic and resulted in the roof’s collapse. Fire crews of several agencies worked towards putting out the fire while keeping the street about Main Street near Union Street sealed for traffic.
Smoke pours from the old house, as captured by a News 8 photojournalist; flames are visible from the rooftop. “It’s the jewel of Brockport,” said Kathy Speer, a local, visibly shaken. “This is the second fire to devastate this house, and it’s heartbreaking to see such an irreplaceable piece of our history in ruins.”
The Morgan-Manning House is a structure begun in 1854 by John Ostrom that was originally the Morgan Homestead. It already had a prior fire in 1964 when Sara Morgan Manning, for whom the house now bears her name, died of injuries sustained. In 1965, it was purchased by the Western Monroe Historical Society. The property has been restored for use as an educational center to host community activities and historic preservation.
The chief of the Brockport Fire District, Tim Smith, confirmed that nobody was inside the building when the fire was reported, and there were no injuries, but historical memorabilia housed on the second floor, under the concern of community members, were lost in the great fire.
While the community is mourning the tremendous damage this cherished landmark has received, others are still trying to find what started the fire. “Moral of the story,” said one resident, “Many of us grew up visiting this house. It’s more than a building; it’s part of our identity.”
Morgan-Manning House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
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