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ST. IGNATIUS- An early morning fire completely destroyed a historic turn-of-the-century building in St. Ignatius.

The Mission Volunteer Fire Department responded to the call just after 2 a.m. Saturday with Assistant Fire Chief Willy Long saying the blaze started in the northeast wing, spread up the side of the building and then consumed the structure.

(photo courtesy Christa Umphrey)

The building was once the Beckwith Mercantile and was one of the oldest standing buildings in town. But, Long says the abandoned building had been boarded up for quite some time.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated.