Fire Damages Historic Building In Quincy

Updated September 30, 2013

The Associated Press

Firefighters spray water on a burning building Monday in Quincy. The historic building was built in 1926 as a Masonic Temple. (Steven Senne/AP)

Fire has heavily damaged the historic 1920s Masonic Temple building in downtown Quincy.

Traffic was diverted as smoke poured from the Hancock Street building before the fire was contained Monday afternoon. No injuries were reported.

Fire Chief Joseph Barron said the four-alarm fire started around noon when workmen were in the basement. The roof later collapsed.

Quincy real estate executive Leo Martin recently agreed to buy the building. He told The Patriot Ledger that two of his employees were "grinding out a heat line" when insulation caught fire.

David Elsner, head of the Masonic Temple Association of Quincy, said the Rural Lodge of Masons has occupied the building since it was finished in 1926. He said the lodge has about 400 members.

The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

This article was originally published on September 30, 2013.

This program aired on September 30, 2013. The audio for this program is not available.