The Rochester Fireplace Division (RFD) responded round 1:00 a.m. to an automated fireplace alarm on the residence that when belonged to Anthony, a pacesetter of the ladies’s suffrage motion. The hearth burned by the house’s again porch.
The Rochester Fireplace Investigation Unit listed the reason for the fireplace as suspicious, however the last trigger stays undetermined and continues to be underneath investigation, RFD spokesperson Lt Jeffrey Simpson instructed CNN.
Cameras on the property confirmed an individual standing within the again yard and on the again porch proper earlier than the fireplace began, Susan B. Anthony Museum and Home president Deborah Hughes instructed CNN.
“We don’t know why somebody would do that, it could have been a random or intentional act, or it could have been somebody responding to the museum being a supporter of ladies’s rights since we’re in a contentious period. It’s exhausting to know for certain,” Hughes mentioned.
Firefighters relocated artifacts right into a secure a part of the home and took nice care coming into the house, stopping any extension of fireside, smoke, or water injury from coming into the home, based on Simpson.
“The firefighters had been so cautious with the artifacts, even shifting footage whereas retaining them in the precise order,” Hughes mentioned. “They had been extraordinarily conscientious about ensuring not an excessive amount of water obtained into the home.”
The again porch, which was over 100 years outdated, was an entire loss and was taken right down to safe the construction and ensure the home was secure, Simpson mentioned.
“The injury to the constructing was purely on the surface again porch of the construction,” he added. “There was some minor extension into the constructing as a result of it broke by the door, however it was just some water and smoke injury on the primary flooring.”
The house was inbuilt 1859, and Anthony lived within the residence — which additionally turned headquarters of the Nationwide American Lady Suffrage Affiliation — from 1866 to 1906, the 12 months she died.
“The Rochester Fireplace Division has lengthy understood the importance that this property holds each to our area people in addition to the nation,” Battalion Chief Joseph Luna mentioned in a press release. “A terrific job was accomplished by the firefighters tonight in limiting the results of the fireplace on each the museum and its shows.”
“Anthony was all about making an attempt to construct a extra simply society and we simply hope that what folks get out of coming to the home conjures up them to proceed this work,” Hughes mentioned.
“It’s so clear how a lot this home issues to the group, our neighbors, and even our firefighters. They had been deeply moved with not solely taking the accountability significantly, however feeling like this can be a nationwide treasure,” Hughes mentioned. “What may have been actually tragic, because of the wonderful work of the firefighters, was a tragic loss however we might be okay.”
The method to rebuild a again porch will start as quickly as attainable, Hughes mentioned.
