irefighters battle a massive fire Friday at the historic House of Ludington Bar & Restaurant in Escanaba. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

ESCANABA — The latest casualty in a plague of fires that has befallen the Delta County seat was a historic building that has been called the “crown jewel of Escanaba” – the House of Ludington, left severely damaged after a blaze broke out Friday morning.

General Manager Tyler DuBord and staff were getting ready for the 11 a.m. opening of the bar and restaurant at 223 Ludington St. when they began to smell burning wood. Unable to locate the source, DuBord called Escanaba Public Safety about 10:30 a.m. Eastern time. Four police cars and one fire truck arrived as a search began.

“Using our thermal imager, we began searching the main floor in an attempt t

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