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Historic Du Quoin home burns

DU QUOIN - What was possibly the first home in Du Quoin was destroyed in a fire Thursday evening.

The Du Quoin Fire Department was dispatched to 12 N. Mulberry Street for a reported residential structure fire.

When crews arrived, the two-story, single-family home and single-story addition was found to be heavily involved with a large volume of fire in the rear or alley side of the home extending into the main two-story area.

According to a news release from Du Quoin Fire Chief David Durkota, crews used a ladder truck to control the fire and protect the surrounding structures.

Durkota said it took crews about 30 minutes to gain control. The home sustained heavy fire and water damage throughout, and a full roof collapse in the single-story portion.

Crews remained on the scene until about 10 p.m. The cause remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Du Quoin Police Department at (618) 542-2131.

According to a Facebook post on Thursday evening by Fred Huff, the home was possibly undergoing a renovation following a past effort by the town's Historic Preservation Society to turn it into a museum. Once owned by Dixie Pflantz, who also owned Pflantz' Tavern, the home was moved to its location on North Mulberry Street in the 1850s.

The home is currently co-owned by Robert and Jerry Pinski of Du Quoin.

The Dowell Fire Department provided mutual aid support with and engine and manpower at the incident, and Christopher Fire Department provided station coverage.

Du Quoin fire crews work to extinguish a Thursday evening fire that destroyed a historic Du Quoin home on North Mulberry Street. Jon Montgomery photo
Smoke rolls from the historic Pflantz house in Du Quoin during a Thursday evening fire that destroyed the historic home, thought to be the town's oldest residence. Jon Montgomery photo