Maples Inn Collapses

The Maples Inn, which is undergoing a ground-up renovation, collapsed this afternoon, apparently taken down by a strong gust of wind. No one was injured.

Police and firefighters were called to the scene at 179 Oenoke Ridge at approximately 1:00 p.m.

"The foreman said there was a large gust of wind," Asst. Fire Chief Jack Hennessey told Patch. "He said the building shifted backward, then collapsed."

Paul E. Bernor, OSHA safety and occupational health specialist arrived at 2:45 p.m.to begin an investigation into the incident.

"I'll do a structural inspection, but I won't go into the building," he said. "We'll do fact finding to get all the information."

Asked if the renovation work might have had something to do with the collapse, Bernor replied, "Let's wait until we figure it out. Speculation is never good."

As he walked toward the collapsed structure he said to no one in particular, "My goodness."

Officer Mike McFadden said police will remain at the site for "scene safety," until OSHA says it's clear.

"They take ownership of the building, then pass it back to the owners," he said.

Andy Glazer and Tom Kennedy, co-owners of the property that includes the main building as well as two smaller cottages, were at the site. The main building is in the process of being turned into 11 , Kennedy told Patch.

"We got a call from the site that there was a problem," Glazer said. "The wind had shifted. The roof buckled and the guys got out. Then the roof started to collapse."

Glazer said there were four construction workers at the site when the building fell. New framing could be seen on the left side of the former inn, which had been stripped bare.

"We were trying to do it surgically," he said. "We were trying to go through the building to do what we can."

Glazer said the building, which is "not a great example of an old structure," had not been razed because he prefers to do restorations.

"This building is more than 100 years old," he said. "It's been through a lot of renovations and compromises. Now we'll do it the right way. We'll strip this out and use some of the old timbers. This building will look like it did in its best years."

'There will be no work until I get done, at least until tomorrow," OSHA inspector Bernor said as he walked out of the fenced construction area. "Then it will be between them and the building department."