Historic Illinois church lost in Christmas Eve fire

BRUSSELS ? A fire ravaged a church in the center of town Christmas Eve night, destroying a monument that brings many out-of-town visitors to this small community of about 150 residents.

Calhoun County Sheriff's Office officials said the blaze was reported around 9:45 p.m. Little was left of the historic Immaculate Conception (St. Mary) Church, at 111 Main Street. No injuries were reported.

The church is part of Blessed Trinity parish, the result of merging it with St. Barbara in Batchtown and St. Joseph in Meppen.

Point Fire Protection District Chief Don Seiferman said investigators believe the fire was caused by an electrical problem.

He said the issue may have started earlier in the day. A volunteer firefighter attending 6:30 p.m. Mass at the church checked for an issue after hearing a crackling sound come from the church's ceiling. He didn't find anything, Seiferman said.

Firefighters went to check the church a second time around 8:30 p.m. That time, they noticed some smoke.

"It really didn't appear to be a big deal at first," Seiferman said. "I don't even think they sounded the alarm. Looked like we had a small fire going then, all at once, the whole attic was on fire."

Firefighters from surrounding jurisdictions helped get the blaze under control. When they finished, Seiferman said, only the building's four walls and a few pews in the rear were still standing.

Efforts to control the blaze were hindered by the town's location, tucked away in a part of the state surrounded by the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Emergency personnel from Carrollton waited at the Hardin Bridge because it was lifted as a barge passed.

"It probably wouldn't have made a difference anyway," Seiferman said.

Seiferman said he had not spoken with church officials about how they planned to address the loss. He knew people had memories connected to the building. While he was not a member there, he and his late wife were married at the church.

According to an Internet guide to the Middle Mississippi River Valley, St. Mary's was built in 1863. Brussels was incorporated 25 years later.

Seiferman, who also sits on a Brussels historic preservation board, said former residents and people from around the area return to the city during the summer for picnics held at the church, located in the heart of Brussels' historic district.

"This was a major blow to this little town here," he said. "Other than a tornado flattening the town, this is as bad as it can get for us."

Marlon A. Walker covers general news for STLtoday.com and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Source: http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r5662765319&f=378

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