McCali Manor in Mount Pleasant a ‘total loss’ after fire

MOUNT PLEASANT, Pa. — McCali Manor in Westmoreland County is a total loss after fire ripped through it Wednesday. The building is over 200 years old.

Mount Pleasant officials say the fire started on West Main Street around 3 p.m. Wednesday, sending flames shooting through the second floor windows and roof.

PHOTOS >>> Fire quickly spreads through building in Mount Pleasant

”I should’ve been here opening the doors and I could’ve opened the door to a backdraft,” said Jane Altman, who owns McCali Manor.

Thursday, McCali Manor’s Owner walked back into the business she’s had since 2009. At that time, she spent $750,000 to restore it.

“We took it all the way back to the brick and built it back out,” Altman said.

Altman said throughout her time as owner, the space has been used for a restaurant and wedding venue. Recently, she’d been renting the rooms to seven tenants. None of them were here when the fire started.

A special STEAM workshop called ArtTEK for Teens was supposed to happen there Wednesday, but it was canceled.

“The teacher called off sick and said, ‘please, you know I don’t feel well,’ and I said, ‘well, just call it off for a day,’” Altman said.

Altman said the water and smoke damage coupled with a caved in roof doesn’t allow her to restore the historical building a second time, which is a loss to the Mount Pleasant community.

“I just felt bad because that’s a very old building, has a lot of history and you hate to see some of these places go in small towns,” said Angie Kujawa, who lives in Mount Pleasant.

The owner said she’s hoping someone from the community can come forward and donate space so that the ArtTEK for Teens program can continue.

The fire marshal is investigating a cause.

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