COVINGTON — A fire early Tuesday struck the historic Odd Fellows Hall, robbing downtown of a cornerstone of its past and future and leaving the Civil War-era building a smoldering ruin.

        “This is the most historic building in the city, a very significant building,” said Covington Mayor Butch Callery.

Little remains of Odd Fellows Hall, a Covington landmark that was soon to be turned into offices and apartments. (Michael E. Keating photo) | PHOTO GALLERY |

        “It was going to be the cornerstone of downtown redevelopment. So it is a sad day, especially for the developers,” he said at the scene of the fire, still smoldering Tuesday night, that was reported at 5:29 a.m.

        After the flames were knocked down Tuesday, city officials ordered the demolition of the teetering shell at Fifth Street and Madison Avenue at midday today. But owners of the building will meet with a structural engineer at sunrise today to determine if the Madison Avenue facade can be saved.

        Covington City Manager Greg Jarvis remained skeptical. Officials hope to know sometime today if the remaining part of the 146-year-old building must be demolished.

        It was feared the structure's remaining 65-foot high brick walls would collapse onto the streets and buildings below. The Fifth Street facade came crashing down at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, about an hour after the first firefighters arrived.

        “Discussions are going to be ongoing into (this) morning with the demolition people,” Mr. Jarvis said. “We hope to have some decisions (on the demolition) at some point (today).”

        Many at the scene mourned the loss of the building dating to 1856 — the site of public events and speeches from the Civil War through Prohibition and the vaudeville era, where issues like secession from the Union and the gold standard were debated, where politician John G. Carlisle was pelted with rotten eggs and the body of assassinated Gov. William Goebel laid in state.

        “Odd Fellows Hall itself is irreplaceable,” said Covington City Commissioner Craig Bohman. “It was a link to a time in Covington's history when we were prominent on the national scene. It linked us to the Civil War and the period after the Civil War up to the turn of the century.”

        “It's devastating,” said co-owner Kelly Sells, who had worked for more than a year to redevelop the building, winning with her partners a highly competitive $550,000 Renaissance Kentucky grant. “It is like going to the funeral of your friend you will never see again. I don't know what to expect. There is nothing we can do.”

        At the height of the blaze, every truck owned by the Covington Fire Department and 70 firefighters were at the scene. Fire departments from throughout Northern Kentucky — including Newport, Ludlow and Fort Mitchell — responded. Four ladder trucks sprayed water on flames from above the building, which had been mostly vacant since the 1950s.

        Fearing they could be crushed in a collapse, firefighters could only spray water on the adjacent Venus Lounge dance club on Fifth Street as flames engulfed that building. The ruins of the hall and dance club were still smoldering Tuesday night.

        No one was injured, and officials said it was unclear what started the fire.

        The picturesque hall was not only a lodge. The mammoth building — featuring its own water system and a second-floor ceiling suspended from the attic by truss work — was the primary gathering spot for significant local events, historians said.

        “I'm heartsick,” said Randy Roeding, construction manager for Mansour's Construction Services of Indianapolis, the general contractor for the renovation project. “I don't have words to describe how I feel. We had been working with the building owners since last November.”

        Mr. Roeding described the truss system an “architectural marvel” that would be virtually impossible to replicate.

        The architecture that helped make the building unique also contributed to its downfall, firefighters said.

        Covington Fire Department Capt. Stan Nassano said firefighters initially made an aggressive attack on the fire, getting to the second floor before being told to pull back.

        The second-floor truss system increased their concerns that the building's floors could collapse.

        “It's a grand old building,” said Covington attorney Greg Shumate, who is representing the owners. “My clients are devastated. They loved that building. It was truly a treasure. They were going to do everything to renovate it to its glory.”

        Kristi Nader, executive director of the Covington Business Council, said that she planned to survey as many businesses as she could reach in the affected area Tuesday, asking what help, if any, the business council could provide.

        To help expedite the process, Mrs. Nader asked that businesses in the area affected by the fire call her at (859) 431-1500, send a fax to (859) 431-5134, or e-mail her at cbcky@fuse.net with a list of their needs.

        Ashley Young, a spokeswoman for the American Red Cross, said that agency provided hotel vouchers and meals to five people who needed shelter after the fire. The Red Cross also was feeding emergency crews and electrical workers at the fire scene, she said.

        Mr. Jarvis said city officials began working with businesses affected by the fire early Tuesday.

        “We're trying to get traffic in and out of that area as much as we can,” Mr. Jarvis said.

        Mr. Jarvis said he didn't know how long the streets would be closed near the hall.

        Electricity was still out in “a couple square block area” surrounding the Odd Fellows Hall Tuesday night, but Cinergy crews were working to get power restored, Mr. Jarvis said.

Related stories:
Odd Fellows fire a profound loss
Traffic, businesses affected
       

Covington loses historic landmark
Odd Fellows fire a profound loss
Traffic, businesses affected
Fire reveals illegal meth lab
Local leader had 'Red Scare'
Pilots resist firearm ruling
Anderson says no to loan program
Front plans to protest at council
Obituary: 'Ben' Henke, gun expert for sheriff
Residents unite against development
Testimony begins in cemetery trial
Transfer cites 'dishonesty'
Tristate A.M. Report
William J. Keating gets Metropolitan Award
Women urged to help one another
BRONSON: Help wanted
HOWARD: Some Good News
KORTE: City Hall
SAMPLES: Connections
SMITH AMOS: Education
$2M cuts for schools to fall hard on staff
Building name honors manager
Butler opens new terminal with ceremony
Governor honors schools
Makeover planned for Miami Township
Man convicted of assaulting officer
Plan consultant sought
Stay out of landfill, trustee told
Taft's message a hit with firefighters
Youth on side of new GOP star
Police say woman is decades-long fugitive
Senate coaxes House on budget
Audit: Most abuse of disabled not reported
Callery votes against center
CovCath fund raisers not worried
Holmes educator disciplined
Lexington bishop accused of abuse
Louisville must release audit
Mailed DNA leads to man's indictment
Paper ordered not to use its name
UK rethinks privately run projects