Historic Stevens House in Minneapolis catches fire for third time since August

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – For the third time for the reason that finish of August, Minneapolis firefighters needed to extinguish a hearth on the historic John H. Stevens Home in Minnehaha Park early Saturday morning.

When Minneapolis firefighters responded to the newest fireplace at 3:42 a.m., the two-story residential constructing, dubbed the “birthplace of Minneapolis,” was nonetheless beneath building from the earlier two fires, which occurred on Sept. 20 and Aug. 30, in response to a press launch from the Minneapolis Hearth Division.

Firefighters arrived to search out heavy flames coming from the rear nook of the constructing, with the fireplace extending from the primary flooring to the roof close to the chimney, the discharge says.

Crews lower by means of a fence and boards to realize entry and used a ladder to get to the roof earlier than extinguishing the fireplace, in response to the discharge. Nobody was injured.

Stevens’ Home was in-built 1849-1850 above St. Anthony Falls, and moved to Minnehaha Park in 1896 after which to its present location in 1982, in response to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.  

Stevens was an early settler and the home the place Minneapolis and Hennepin Nation had been first shaped.

“3 times is past suspicious, thrice is deliberate,” mentioned Minneapolis historian Karen E. Cooper. “It is deliberate, it is a deliberate crime.”

Cooper has little question that, after three fires, somebody is concentrating on the historic dwelling. A brief six-foot steel fence was put up across the dwelling following the primary fireplace. The Minneapolis Park Board tells FOX 9 they’re working to place up a better fence that isn’t in a position to be climbed, as quickly as attainable.

“It is all the time taking place from behind [the house],” mentioned Cooper. “You all the time need to be behind the home to see what’s occurred.”

The reason for the fireplace continues to be beneath investigation.