Firefighters battled flames that broke out in a former function hall at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday in Milton, Massachusetts.
The century-old Milton Hoosic Club function hall was being renovated for use by the Goddard School, a franchised private preschool and educational daycare company.
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The building is a total loss after a couple of months worth of construction, according to Milton Fire Chief Christopher Madden.
"Oh my God, I was just... I started crying," said Patty Lamb, the function hall's former manager. "I spent 18 years of my life here. I've worked hundreds of weddings. They held the kids cotillions here, funerals -- every celebration, both happy and sad."
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"It was a gorgeous, craftsman-style building," said Annie Davis, who lives nearby. "You can see from what's left of the chimneys how beautiful it was."
What appeared to be a minor fire from the outside quickly spread through the interior of the building.
"Once they got inside the building, they found heavy fire in the attic space," Madden said. "They cleared the building right off the bat and immediately went to a third alarm on this."
No one was injured in the blaze.
Milton firefighters were still on scene hosing down the building on Tuesday morning.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
