Couples face uncertainty after Haley Mansion fire in Joliet leaves wedding venue damaged

JOLIET, Unwell. (WLS) — A historic mansion in Joliet typically used for occasions, together with weddings, was badly broken in a hearth Wednesday afternoon.

Whereas hearth officers say the constructing will ultimately be restored, it won’t occur quickly sufficient for {couples} who deliberate to get married there simply weeks from now.

The Patrick Haley Mansion is a well-liked venue for weddings, with dozens deliberate over the following a number of months. These {couples} at the moment are anxiously hoping this constructing will quickly be restored.

Mike Doolin and his fiancée Katie Edgeworth took their first take a look at the Haley Mansion in Joliet because it caught hearth Wednesday afternoon – an agonizing flip of occasions simply 37 days out from their marriage ceremony.

They went from planning seating preparations to questioning if the marriage may even occur right here on March 11.

“We have been devastated yesterday,” Edgeworth stated. “Form of confused.”

Doolin and Edgeworth stated this was the one venue they visited, calling it an ideal match as quickly as they walked in.

“It is a good looking place, it nonetheless is,” Doolin stated. “Hopefully they get it up and working actually quickly. Simply glad nobody was damage and no vital injury to the constructing.”

It is a predicament numerous {couples} at the moment are dealing with with this in style marriage ceremony venue. The excellent news is the fireplace was contained to the higher stage. Hearth officers stated the constructing is salvageable and might seemingly be restored.

However it’s now a race towards time for this couple, in addition to Hashim Tillawi and his fiancée Tess.

“It is like a horrible nightmare, completely unexpected,” Tillawi stated. “You get up to the information and also you’re hoping and praying that it is a actually unhealthy dream.”

The couple is about to get married right here on the finish of July. They’re relieved that the fireplace did not broaden throughout your entire constructing, giving them hope that they will dwell out their huge day on this mansion.

“For us that may be a large aid, however now the query stays: is time working towards us?” Tillawi stated.

The cleanup and restoration course of has already begun, however the reason for the fireplace nonetheless is not clear. Hearth officers have dominated it an accident.

One of many Haley Mansion’s homeowners advised ABC7 that they’re bringing in architects to debate find out how to rebuild. She added that they’ve contacted people who have occasions booked on the venue and may know extra in regards to the severity of the injury in a number of days.

The Haley Mansion posted the next assertion on their Fb web page: “Yesterday afternoon Haley Mansion caught hearth. We’re grateful nobody was damage. We have no idea the extent of the injury and might be working right now to evaluate the severity of this case. For security causes, the ability has been reduce to the constructing so we at present don’t have any cellphone system in place. We might be updating everybody as quickly as potential. We’ve each intention of restoring this lovely historic mansion. Thanks on your understanding throughout this tough time.”