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On Sunday the Juneau Empire reported that the fire which destroyed the second oldest building in Juneau, the Episcopalian Church, was arson. Here is an excerpt from that story. So very sad.
"Gold Street Fire Police arrest suspect for church blaze "
By ERIC MORRISON JUNEAU EMPIRE 3/26/06
A 24-year-old disgruntled downtown partygoer was arrested Friday on charges of arson and criminal mischief for the March 12 fire that destroyed the 110-year-old Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Juneau Fire Marshal Rich Etheridge said. Bob Huber is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail at the Lemon Creek Correctional Center for what authorities said appears to have been a random act of destruction. If convicted of the felonies Huber could face up to 20 years in prison on each charge, Juneau Assistant District Attorney Doug Gardner said.
Etheridge said the investigation of the early morning fire concluded that Huber allegedly started the blaze in a 21-foot Bayliner boat after being enraged for being ejected from a party. The fire destroyed the boat and a house next door to Holy Trinity, as well as the church at 325 Gold Street that included McPhetres Hall. "There was some kind of disturbance at a party on the same road that the fire happened at," Etheridge said. "The suspect got basically ejected from a party for unknown reasons. They decided he didn't need to be there and he was angry and frustrated about being thrown out of the party. And shortly after it was reported to us that the fire started." Etheridge said he believes something was used to fuel the fire in the boat at the start. From there it quickly spread to the church and the neighboring house. He said initial damage estimates exceed $2 million. We have a fair amount of physical evidence and lots of witness-type evidence as well," Etheridge said. "We recovered the bulk of the evidence out of his apartment here in town."
Holy Trinity was the second oldest church building in Juneau and was registered as a National Historic Landmark. Construction began in May 1896 and the first services were held July 26, 1896.
Rev. George Silides said he wasn't surprised to hear it was arson that caused the fire. Having always known that the building did not burst on its own, that the fire was set by someone, this is simply confirmation that in fact it was someone and that someone came to light." Silides said as a Christian he holds no animosity toward the suspect and plans to move forward with the church's mission. "(The arrest) will affect different people different ways," he said. "Now they will have a place to put their grief, and it falls to me as pastor to help us through that."
Etheridge said the incident also was the largest fire in recent history, with more than 30 firefighters working to contain the March 12 blaze. "This one had the highest risk for major catastrophe," he said. "There was a very high risk of losing the entire block."
Longtime parishioner Lorraine Bayer said the congregation is moving forward and doing well since the loss of the church. "I realized that you can't let it upset you," the 85-year-old woman said. "It did that first week, but now we're busy doing things, and that's the main thing."
"The building is lost and can't be replaced, but the loss of the building doesn't end the mission of the ministry and the future of the church," Silides said. The church has been in contact with its insurance company and has been discussing the future structure at the Gold Street site. Silides said he is increasingly assured there will be funds from the insurance to rebuild the church, but does not believe they will recoup all the loss of belongings. "The three pianos, the organ and the communion vessels used for the Sunday worship exceed the value covered by the insurance for the contents," he said.
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