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March 28, 2019 Newswires
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Everything inside St. Louis museum saved from fire, but fate of building less clear

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO)

March 28-- Mar. 28--ST. LOUIS -- All the rare items inside a rare manuscript library were saved from a dramatic four-alarm fire Tuesday night, the museum's director reported as workers picked through the rubble Wednesday.

But the fate of the heavily damaged historical building that housed the pieces is less clear. Damage was extensive, but officials say it could be saved.

The smell of charred wood still hung in the air Wednesday afternoon. Soot covered the brick above the windows on the third floor of the building and virtually every window on the rear of the structure. Many of the stained-glass windows remained intact, but at least two were damaged, shards of them glistening along the driveway leading to the museum. The roof had collapsed. Yellow caution tape surrounded the building. Condemnation notices on every door warned visitors to stay away.

St. Louis Building Commissioner Frank Oswald said the building was structurally sound and could be repaired.

It's unclear how much a renovation could cost.

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Director Kerry Manderbach said the museum's owner, David Karpeles, had not yet decided whether to renovate the damaged structure, which could include demolishing the damaged portion at the rear of the structure; relocate the museum to another building; or leave St. Louis altogether.

Estimates from architects, insurance adjusters, cleanup crews and others that follow fires will all have to be factored into what's next for the museum.

David and Marsha Karpeles, who made their fortune in Southern California real estate, have collected historic documents for decades. They founded the first of their museums in 1983 and opened the St. Louis location at 3524 Russell Boulevard in 2015.

The former church was the 13th Karpeles branch and housed parts of Karpeles' collection of original manuscripts, one of the largest in the world.

"Between myself and the firefighters who would let me in, thankfully all of Dr. Karpeles' pieces were saved," Manderbach said.

There were about 24 documents and manuscripts, including a high school yearbook from Cuba when Fidel Castro was a student, and fingerprints from Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara as well as a CIA notebook containing notes about his movements.

The St. Louis Media Foundation also was hosting an exhibit there, and all of its materials were saved. Some remain in glass cases that protected them as firefighters poured water on the blaze, Manderbach said.

For now, Manderbach and board members of the foundation have taken the rare pieces into their own homes for safekeeping, he said.

Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson said the department first sent firefighters inside the building with hoses to try to extinguish the blaze internally before deciding to use the aerial ladders and hoses, so to many, it may have looked as though firefighters weren't pouring water on the building quickly enough.

"We can't throw water on a building when we've got people in the building," Jenkerson said.

No one was injured. Flames were largely extinguished by 9 p.m. -- about two hours after the blaze began.

The building, a six-columned brick-and-stone church with arching stained-glass windows, sits just five houses off South Grand Boulevard, across the street from Compton Hill's Reservoir Park, and on a block of mansions, luxury apartments and grand old St. Louis homes. Originally the Third Church of Christ, Scientist, the 107-year-old Greek Revival structure more recently housed the New Paradise Missionary Baptist Church.

Karpeles Manuscript Museum

Karpeles Manuscript Museum

Firefighters battle a massive fire at St. Louis museum on March 26, 2019 that holds historic manuscripts. The St. Louis' Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, at 3524 Russell Blvd., houses some of collector David Karpeles' collection of original manuscripts, one of the largest in the world. Photo by Christian Gooden [email protected]

Historic building and museum burns

Historic building and museum burns

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, located at 3524 Russell Blvd., burns under heavy fire on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, St. Louis firefighters try to contain it. Photo by Christian Gooden, [email protected]

Christian Gooden

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Fire

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Fire

A firefighter carries a ship replica to a firetruck on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 following a fire at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum. Officials with the museum say there was little to no loss and minimal water damage to items in the building, a neighbor has offered garage space to store items for the time being. Photo by Colter Peterson, [email protected]

Colter Peterson

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Fire

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Fire

Area residents Tyler Wells, left, and Derrick Neuner check inside a box laying on the street on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 following a fire at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum. The box contained items that had been quickly salvaged from the building Tuesday night. Officials with the museum say there was little to no loss and minimal water damage to items in the building, a neighbor has offered garage space to store items for the time being. Photo by Colter Peterson, [email protected]

Colter Peterson

Historic building and museum burns

Historic building and museum burns

St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson, (right), and Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards watch as firefighters fight a blaze at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, located at 3524 Russell Blvd. Photo by Christian Gooden, [email protected]

Christian Gooden

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Fire

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Fire

A firefighter carries a ship replica to a firetruck on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 following a fire at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum. Officials with the museum say there was little to no loss and minimal water damage to items in the building, a neighbor has offered garage space to store items for the time being. Photo by Colter Peterson, [email protected]

Colter Peterson

Historic building and museum burns

Historic building and museum burns

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, located at 3524 Russell Blvd., burns under heavy fire on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, St. Louis firefighters try to contain it. Photo by Christian Gooden, [email protected]

Christian Gooden

Historic building and museum burns

Historic building and museum burns

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, located at 3524 Russell Blvd., burns under heavy fire on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, St. Louis firefighters try to contain it. Photo by Christian Gooden, [email protected]

Christian Gooden

Historic building and museum burns

Historic building and museum burns

St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson speaks to the media as firefighters fight a blaze at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, located at 3524 Russell Blvd. Photo by Christian Gooden, [email protected]

Christian Gooden

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Fire

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Fire

A firefighter carries a ship replica to a firetruck on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 following a fire at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum. Officials with the museum say there was little to no loss and minimal water damage to items in the building, a neighbor has offered garage space to store items for the time being. Photo by Colter Peterson, [email protected]

Colter Peterson

Historic building and museum burns

Historic building and museum burns

St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson speaks to the media as firefighters fight a blaze at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, located at 3524 Russell Blvd. Photo by Christian Gooden, [email protected]

Christian Gooden

Fire at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum

Fire at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum

Firefighters battle a blaze at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum in St. Louis on Tuesday, March 26, 2019. Photo by Christian Gooden, [email protected]

Christian Gooden

Fire at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum

Fire at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum

Firefighters battle a blaze at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum in St. Louis on Tuesday, March 26, 2019. Photo by Christian Gooden, [email protected]

Christian Gooden

SEE THE MUSEUM WHEN IT OPENED

Karpeles Manuscript Library opens- exterior

Karpeles Manuscript Library opens- exterior

Exterior of of Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum in St. Louis photographed on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015. The museum holding the largest private collection of original manuscripts and documents in the world. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

Karpeles Manuscript Library opens- model of Titanic

Karpeles Manuscript Library opens- model of Titanic

Cedric Howell and Gwen Johnson admire a model of the Titanic onTuesday, Aug. 11, 2015, at the Karpeles Manuscript Library in St. Louis. The museum holds the largest private collection of original manuscripts and documents in the world. ""That took a lot of work," said Howell, who enjoyed reading several manuscripts on display but said the model was his favorite artifact on display. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

Laurie Skrivan

Karpeles Manuscript Library opens- model of Titanic

Karpeles Manuscript Library opens- model of Titanic

Gwen Johnson reads a manuscript which is part of the Wright Brothers exhibit now on display onTuesday, Aug. 11, 2015, at the Karpeles Manuscript Library in St. Louis. The museum holds the largest private collection of original manuscripts and documents in the world. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

Laurie Skrivan

Karpeles Manuscript Library opens- fabric swatch from Kitty Hawk flyer

Karpeles Manuscript Library opens- fabric swatch from Kitty Hawk flyer

A small swatch of fabric from the flyer the Wright brothers made history at Kitty Hawk in 1903 is part of the Wright Brothers exhibit at the Karpeles Manuscript. Photographed on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015, at the Karpeles Manuscript Library in St. Louis. The museum holds the largest private collection of original manuscripts and documents in the world. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

Photos by Laurie Skrivan [email protected]

Karpeles Manuscript Library opens- First page of Confederated Constitution

Karpeles Manuscript Library opens- First page of Confederated Constitution

The first draft of the Constitution of the Confederate Sates of America at the Karpeles Manuscript Library in St. Louis. The museum holds the largest private collection of original manuscripts and documents in the world. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

Laurie Skrivan

Karpeles Manuscript Library opens- model of Titanic

Karpeles Manuscript Library opens- model of Titanic

Cedric Howell and Gwen Johnson admire a model of the Titanic on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015, at the Karpeles Manuscript Library in St. Louis. The museum holds the largest private collection of original manuscripts and documents in the world. "That took a lot of work," said Howell, who enjoyed reading several manuscripts on display but said the model was his favorite artifact on display. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]

Laurie Skrivan

___

(c)2019 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Visit the St. Louis Post-Dispatch at www.stltoday.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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