An historic home in Beaver Valley was all but obliterated in an early morning fire.
All that remains of the 125-year-old home is a portion of the walls and a newer addition on the rear of the building.
The Blue Mountains fire department received a call about the house on the intersection of Beaver Valley Road and Epping from a neighbour at about 4 a.m. on Thursday, October 30.
The owner, Dr. Peter von Bitter, was away at his other home in the Toronto area. No one was injured in the blaze. By the time the neighbour noticed and phoned 911, the flames were through the roof.
When firefighters arrived, the flames had consumed most of the front section of the house, including the roof, a side addition and the top floor. Firefighters managed to save the newer addition at the rear of the house by cutting a hole in the roof to allow heat and smoke to escape.
Windows had already started to crack in the addition indicating high levels of heat, according to A.J. Lake, fire prevention officer for The Blue Mountains.
There was a propane tank at the back of the house that remained safe, but firefighters had to manage tanks of fuel oil in the basement, which did catch fire.
The house, locally known as the Londry home, was built circa 1885 by the original owners Clara and Clarence Londry with additions constructed in 1957 and about 10 years ago. Von Bitter has owned the home for about 20 years, and said he was spending more time in the area now that he is retired.
All that is left standing of the original part of the home is the half stone - half brick walls. Von Bitter said there were several theories about the unusual construction of the home. Some assume it was supposed to be a barn, others that they ran out of stone.
Firefighters are still investigating the cause of the fire.
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