Fire destroys historic Sultan building

A Sultan landmark was destroyed by fire early Friday, along with a century's worth of the city's historical records.

Lost were public-works records that included plats dating back to the days when this east Snohomish County city was incorporated in 1905, city officials said.

"These are things lost that we will never be able to replace," said city Administrator Deborah Knight.

Public-works records in the last 10 years were not stored in the historic building and are safe. But officials worry the lost records of its streets, sewer lines and dam will hinder or slow down repairs on older projects.

"For instance, the city built the dam in 1911 and we want to go back to inspect that dam. We need records on how it was originally built," Knight said. "Now we will be groping in the dark."

After Christmas, city officials will do an inventory and check with the county and state, hoping some duplicates were kept.

Built in the 1940s, the two-story structure served as City Hall until 1999.

The fire started around 1:30 a.m. Friday on the second floor and quickly spread, collapsing the roof and also burning the adjacent day-care facility on the north side. No one was hurt.

Officials said the damage was severe enough that the floors are too unstable to enter at this time.

The Boys & Girls Club had been using both buildings to house its events and the child-care program.

Sultan Police Chief Jeff Brand said there was no evidence of foul play from a review of a surveillance video, although the investigation is continuing.

On Friday morning, community leaders met and decided all the Boys & Girls programs would relocate to the nearby Volunteers of America facility.

"We are sad to lose both buildings because they played a very important role. (The city) lost some old records... and it was a hub for youths," Brand said.

"This was where all the teens had all their dances," said former City Councilmember Ron Wiediger, who has lived in Sultan for 33 years. "It's going to be missed. It really is."

Tan Vinh: 206-515-5656 or tvinh@seattletimes.com