Today’s “Ohio Preservation News” and “Ohio Downtown News” feeds are full of coverage of the unfortunate early-morning fire that struck Downtown Lancaster on Tuesday – a fire which will result in the loss of at least two buildings located in the Lancaster West Main Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The decision to demolish was made after structural engineers declared the buildings to be unsafe. Fortunately no one appears to have been hurt, including those in the buildings and firefighters working to control the damage.

Comprehensive coverage of the fire can be viewed by visiting the website of the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. According to the Eagle-Gazette, the two buildings to be demolished on Wednesday were first-generation brick commercial buildings, built in the 1830s and 1840s.

Photo: Main Street, Downtown Lancaster, circa 1920/Public Domain