An early morning structure fire in Homer has left one person unaccounted for and several people displaced. The fire broke out at a historic building on South Main Street around 2:30 a.m. The building was known as the Wheadon Block, and historians believe it was built in the mid-1800's.
HOMER, N.Y. -- It's a building that's been a staple to the Homer community for about 170 years. And, following Friday's fire, residents say its loss will leave a huge impact.
"Homer is known for its historic district. It's who we are. It's how tourists know who we are,"said Chip Jeremy, former village co-historian. "It's one reason people come back. They take photos. They do paintings of it. When you think of Homer, you think of the Village Green that we're standing on and you think of this downtown district just adjacent to it. It's a huge hole in that."
Jermy says it originally had a performance floor upstairs and it was also home to Homer's first newspaper The Homer Republican.
"It's something that no matter what you rebuild, it can never be replaced," Jeremy said. "You can never replace the history and what it is."
Modernly it functioned as a commercial building with apartments on the top floor, and businesses on the bottom.
Homer Fire Chief Bob Johnson believes about 15 people were inside the structure at the time the fire broke out and that it began on the second floor.
"It was a heavy fire load in the building," Johnson said. "We made our initial attack on the building. Too much fire, too much fire load in there to really do anything.".
Crews even used extension ladders to help put out the flames.
"It's a turn of the century building; you hate to see those things go," Johnson said. "And, you want to try to keep people safe."
Homer's Mayor Genevieve Suits says as the community heals, she's looking toward the future.
"The building's been here a long time; it's a mainstay for the village of Homer," Suits said. "We're devastated. We really are. I can only hope for reconstruction."
Residents are being assisted by the Red Cross.