A historic home in Ashland is reduced to rubble after a devastating fire.Fire crews were called to the scene around 2:30 Tuesday morning. They said the home that’s stood for more than a century is a total loss.Family of Israel Beetison, the original home builder, said they’re heartbroken.A painting of the home hangs in Krista Beetison-Sender’s living room.”Amelia, which would be my great, great-grandma. She’s standing there waving,” Beetison-Sender said.It’s of her family’s historic home in Ashland: the Israel Beetison house.”When you think of Ashland, the first thing that comes to mind is the Beetison home. It’s synonymous with Ashland,” Beetison-Sender said.She said it’s where she grew up.“I would spend the weekends and the entire summer over at my grandparents’ house. And it was just, you know, one of the most precious family memories I have,” she said.The home was built in 1874. In the 1970s, it was placed on the national register of historic places.In the 1990s, her uncle sold it to developers who would later build the Iron Horse housing development and golf course.”The Beetison house was supposed to be phase three of the golf course and then the economy went awry and they stopped building,” Beetison-Sender said.Then it fell into disrepair.“It’s got a lot of history behind the whole house and people wanted to see it restored. Because it’s a part of the community, it’s not just my family house but it’s part of Ashland,” Beetison-Sender said. “Some wanted to see it as a bed and breakfast. A clubhouse for the golf course. A stop off on the highway.”A few weeks ago, the city of Ashland and developers held a meeting to discuss what to do with the land citing major, multimillion dollar repairs that would need to be done to restore the home. Beetison-Sender said the home does not have functioning electric or water and had been boarded up for years.Tuesday overnight, it burned down.“I, in my heart of hearts, think it was arson. I don’t think, I know it was arson, I think that somebody wanted it gone,” Beetison-Sender said.The State Fire Marshal’s office said the fire is under investigation and could not comment if it was suspicious.The developers declined to comment.Ashland residents said it’s a huge loss of a piece of their city’s history.“Well, it’s always been known around here as the Beetison house. Everybody knew about it and even though it went to shambles, people would still come take pictures of it,” said Dee Bassett, an Ashland resident.Beetison-Sender says arson or accident, she wants answers.“I hope they’re held accountable,” she said.
A historic home in Ashland is reduced to rubble after a devastating fire.
Fire crews were called to the scene around 2:30 Tuesday morning.
They said the home that’s stood for more than a century is a total loss.
Family of Israel Beetison, the original home builder, said they’re heartbroken.
A painting of the home hangs in Krista Beetison-Sender’s living room.
“Amelia, which would be my great, great-grandma. She’s standing there waving,” Beetison-Sender said.
It’s of her family’s historic home in Ashland: the Israel Beetison house.
“When you think of Ashland, the first thing that comes to mind is the Beetison home. It’s synonymous with Ashland,” Beetison-Sender said.
She said it’s where she grew up.
“I would spend the weekends and the entire summer over at my grandparents’ house. And it was just, you know, one of the most precious family memories I have,” she said.
The home was built in 1874.
In the 1970s, it was placed on the national register of historic places.
In the 1990s, her uncle sold it to developers who would later build the Iron Horse housing development and golf course.
“The Beetison house was supposed to be phase three of the golf course and then the economy went awry and they stopped building,” Beetison-Sender said.
Then it fell into disrepair.
“It’s got a lot of history behind the whole house and people wanted to see it restored. Because it’s a part of the community, it’s not just my family house but it’s part of Ashland,” Beetison-Sender said. “Some wanted to see it as a bed and breakfast. A clubhouse for the golf course. A stop off on the highway.”
A few weeks ago, the city of Ashland and developers held a meeting to discuss what to do with the land citing major, multimillion dollar repairs that would need to be done to restore the home. Beetison-Sender said the home does not have functioning electric or water and had been boarded up for years.
Tuesday overnight, it burned down.
“I, in my heart of hearts, think it was arson. I don’t think, I know it was arson, I think that somebody wanted it gone,” Beetison-Sender said.
The State Fire Marshal’s office said the fire is under investigation and could not comment if it was suspicious.
The developers declined to comment.
Ashland residents said it’s a huge loss of a piece of their city’s history.
“Well, it’s always been known around here as the Beetison house. Everybody knew about it and even though it went to shambles, people would still come take pictures of it,” said Dee Bassett, an Ashland resident.
Beetison-Sender says arson or accident, she wants answers.
“I hope they’re held accountable,” she said.