Per week’s value of heavy snow coupled with rain in a single day in Bayfield proved an excessive amount of for the roof of the historic Albion Lodge.
“I got a call from my neighbor up top here, and she said the police are out here. This is around 9:00 this morning, and I came out and looked and the roof had collapsed,” stated Ray Bauer, who lives and works straight throughout the road from the Albion.
Nobody is strictly sure when, however someday in a single day or very early Sunday morning, the roof of the Albion Lodge on Bayfield’s Important Avenue collapsed.
There was nobody within the constructing when the roof collapsed and nobody was injured, however the harm left behind is intensive. The way forward for the constructing and fashionable enterprise is in query.
“We went to the Albion last night for dinner. Just to get some spinach dip. They have the best spinach dip. And then we got some news this morning that the roof fell off. It’s crazy,” stated Michelle and Olivia Anjema, who frequent the Albion’s most important ground restaurant and pub.
Constructing officers on scene say they’ll must attempt to get a glance contained in the constructing to see simply how intensive the harm is to the remainder of the historic resort and restaurant earlier than figuring out subsequent steps. The Albion’s proprietor stated he’s nonetheless in shock, however is pleased nobody was harm.
A part of the Albion’s roof is resting on the roof of the close by Black Canine Restaurant, that means it too is closed till additional discover.
“It’s never a good time, but it’s before Christmas and people are out and about and, you know, Christmas parties are happening and that kind of thing. So it’s, it’s unfortunate, but the community will come together and help them,” stated Bauer.
The Albion Lodge was constructed within the early 1840s, with the second story added in 1856. It’s been a staple on Bayfield’s Heritage Important Avenue for greater than 145 years. It’s future, nonetheless, may be very a lot doubtful.
“This is like the heart of Bayfield, right? So we’ve got memories. It’s a favorite. Sad, right. Very sad. I hope they can rebuild it, and it’ll reopen quickly. But yeah, who knows, who knows,” stated the Anjema household.
Bauer, who can also be an insurance coverage dealer, stated he’s conscious of some barns throughout the area who’ve had their roofs collapse this week as nicely beneath the burden of heavy snow and now rain.
He stated it’s time for people to look upward and take away a few of that snow load from their roofs as quickly as doable.
“Check your roofs,” he stated.
Whereas choices are made about what to do concerning the Albion and its collapsed roof, a small part of Bayfield’s Important Avenue might be closed to vehicular site visitors.
That hasn’t stopped a gradual stream of Bayfield residents and winter vacationers from commiserating in entrance of the Albion all day lengthy. Some fearing they’ve had their final meal on the iconic resort and restaurant that’s been serving Bayfield meals and cheer for greater than a century.
