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Community Reeling from General Store Fire

Putney, Vermont - November 11, 2009

Investigators were onsite of the devastating fire at the Putney General Store for most of last week. The General Store was in the process of being brought back to life after it sustained serious damage from another fire a year-and-a-half earlier. The cause of that fire was determined to be an electrical short, but the one that ripped through the building last week remains suspicious.

"They are trying to determine cause and origin and it is still very suspicious in nature. And once they have completed their onsite investigation and witness interviews, we will determine whether or not this was arson," says Windham County State's Attorney Tracy Shriver.

That's news that community members find troubling, including Neil Madow, who owns the adjacent building.

"It is very disturbing, I still can't believe that somebody would be so malicious that would do this," Madow said. "I can't see a reason for it, my tenants barely escaped with their lives."

One bright spot among all the ash and debris its that both buildings were insured and owners of the General Store say they do plan to rebuild.

"The Historical Society's full board met and voted to move ahead with the building project as far as we can," said Society member Lyssa Papazian.

Papazian says a new building will no longer be able to get historical tax credits, but the Historical Society is exploring other fundraising possibilities with strong urging from residents.

"There's been a huge outpouring of both sympathy and support from the community," she said. "This is so important and now really more than ever, the whole community is really behind us."

However, Madow remains skeptical as he looks over the damage.

"Hopes and dreams and sentiment is easy. The practicality and whether it is financially and physically practical is a far cry from that," Madow says. "I hope to God that they can do it."

For now only remnants of the historic Putney General Store remain.

Adam Sullivan - WCAX News