MENDON – The historic barn at 34 George St. burned to the ground late Tuesday, leaving little but the foundation of the 19th-century building.
According to crews on the scene, the barn was fully engulfed and collapsed into itself. The fire was reported at 7:51 p.m. and burned for several hours.
A Historical Commission review shows the barn was constructed in the 1830s.
The fire occurred a little more than a week before a special Town Meeting article was to be considered that aimed to preserve the historic dairy barn and accompanying farmhouse in a 24-acre open space parcel. The article is part of an agreement with Alfonso Real Estate, the company that owns the farmland and plans to develop part of it.
“It’s the timing that makes this fire interesting,” said Kimberly Newman, town administrator. Given the fire, the town will likely pass over the article, she said.
The state fire marshal’s office is still investigating the fire’s cause, according to spokesman Jennifer Meath.
Crews from Hopedale, Millville, Uxbridge, Blackstone and Bellingham assisted Mendon in the effort.