Fire That Destroyed Football Legend's Home 'Suspicious'

NEW HAVEN, CT — A fire at the historic former home of football legend Walter Camp is being considered suspicious, The New Haven Register reported. A fire official said that the home was vacant and secured at the time the fire broke out and that the building has no power.

A fire ripped through a historic three-story Victorian home at 1303 Chapel St. Christmas morning. The home, which formerly belonged to Camp and was sold last month for $1.2 million.

No injuries were reported. The fire caused the building's third story to collapse.

Camp lived in the building for about four years in the 1880s, The Hartford Courant reported. Camp was born in New Britain in 1859 and is considered the father of American football. He was the founder of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The home, built in 1900, had been purchased by a developer and was being renovated.