Historic Georgia Building Partially Collapses During Ice Storm

Fire officials say the poor condition of a historic building in midtown Atlanta contributed to its partial collapse during an ice storm.

Atlanta Fire Rescue spokeswoman Janet Ward says the Craigie House was undergoing renovations because of years of rot and termites.

She said there was ice on the roof when a red brick wall collapsed Wednesday night. But she added that if the house wasn’t in such poor shape, it would still be standing.

The house, across from Piedmont Park, was built in 1911. Its front columns remained standing Thursday.

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution once used it as its Atlanta chapter house. But a tree fell on it in 1985, the building deteriorated and it became unusable by the group, according to the organization’s website.