It's going to be a while before Bay City Hall is back to normal.
A Tuesday afternoon fire in the attic caused fire, smoke, and water damage.
It's causing quite an interruption and those close to the city's historical ties are hurting.
Ron Bloomfield, Bay County's chief historian says, "It's such an icon of Bay City history, and to see something like that happening just pains me to death." Bloomfield knows Bay City's history inside and out. He says Bay City Hall was completed in 1897, eight years before Bay City and West Bay City got together.
"To have city hall last as long as it has and still functioning, it's just amazing," Bloomfield says.
It has always stood as a city hall. It was never converted from or to anything else.
So when firecrews had to chainsaw their way through the roof to get to the fire, it cut away more than wood.
"They have to do what they have to do to get the fire out. Otherwise, it could have been a danger to the rest of the structure, but it is essentially cutting through our history," says Bloomfield.
Officials say, while the hall is closed, residents are encouraged to mail their utility payments.
Shutoff notices will be suspended until further notice.
Every year thousands of students tour the more than 113 year old building.
Officials believe the fire started because of a short in a ventilation fan above the 4th floor.
They say it was not caused by the roof construction project.
