Oct. 3, 2005—Firefighters have been unable to determine the cause of a blaze that destroyed the top floor of an abandoned building in Charlotte Amalie Friday.
"Since the fire has compromised the integrity of the structure, we have decided we don't want to risk the lives of any individuals who have to go in there and investigate what happened," Donald Charles, Fire Services spokesman, said. Charles added some of the pillars inside the structure, as well as the roof, have already started to collapse.
Consequently, Charles said the cause of the fire would be classified as indeterminate. "It's a shame, too," Charles said. "The building was very historic. I imagine it once meant a great deal to the community."
Charles speculated the building, located on Bunker Hill, was at least 150 years old, a fact which was confirmed by Myron Jackson of the V. I. State Historic Preservation Office. "It could actually be up to 250 years old," Jackson said. Jackson added the structure also once served as a home to the Anduze clan, now settled all over the territory. Jackson specifically mentioned Mildred Anduze, famous on St. Thomas for her culinary abilities.
"She did a lot within the community," Jackson said. "In addition to being a reputable chef, she was the author of a cookbook, and she taught the first home economics class in the history of the V.I."
Currently, the building still belongs to the family, although Jackson did not know to which member or members in particular. Calls placed to attorney David Bornn, who handles the estate, as well as attorney Roy Anduze, yielded similar results. Neither have any details on who owns the building.
However, Jackson said he has been in negotiations with other Anduze family members to convert the structure into a museum for furniture and other native decorative art. "Nothing had been finalized as yet," Jackson said.
Jackson added while he is disappointed about the fire, he is confident the structure can be rebuilt. "The only problem with that, though, is the funding," Jackson said. "If I had the money we would rebuild it in a second. Now, it depends on what the family wants to do with it."
Both Bornn and Anduze also had no idea what will become of the building. "It used to be such a grand residence," Anduze said. "I don't know what the plans are, but I hope it can be restored."
Anduze added he spent much of his childhood there, and could recall many happy times with his grandmother Mildred.
"It's really horrible that the building was allowed to deteriorate to such a state," Anduze said.
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