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Cause of fire that damaged historic Greenville Masonic lodge remains unknown

By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff

GREENVILLE — The cause of the fire that damaged Greenville’s historic Masonic lodge may never be known.

The fire broke out at the Masonic Hall on Pritham Avenue about 1:07 a.m. Monday, according to Shannon Moss, the spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

When firefighters arrived, they discovered heavy flames, and video and photos from the scene showed flames roaring up from the lodge’s roof.

Photo courtesy of the Maine Department of Public Safety
MASONIC LODGE FIRE — The cause of the fire that ripped through the Greenville Masonic lodge early Monday morning remains unknown because of the extent of the damage.

Investigators have concluded that the fire began in the basement kitchen, Moss said Tuesday morning. But the extent of the damage has prevented the fire marshal’s office from determining the blaze’s cause.

Moss said that investigators have found no evidence to suggest the fire was intentionally set.

The lodge has loomed over Pritham Avenue since its construction in 1929, paid for by merchant Arthur Crafts, according to the Moosehead Lakeshore Journal.

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