Joseph's Marketplace Roof Succumbs to Heavy Rains

Severe thunderstorms in the early hours of July 23 are blamed for causing a structural failure in the roof at Joseph’s Marketplace, located at 180 W. Virginia. The store has been shut down, temporarily. 

Crystal Lake Fire/Rescue Battalion Chief Thomas Pollnow said water had accumulated in the center of the building’s roof and entered in through a crack in the building, causing the seam to split. 

“One beam failed in the upper part of the roof area,” he said. 

Fire/Rescue responded to the call early in the morning with Crystal Lake Police Department and the city’s building department and worked throughout the day to secure the building. 

Commonwealth Edison was able to cut electrical power on the inside of the building for emergency and engineering crews to work, while keeping power going to the coolers in the building, Pollnow said. 

The city’s structural engineers worked to shore up the roof to secure it from further harm and started working with the business owners. 

A contractor was called to stabilize and repair the roof, which Pollnow said should be completed as soon as some heavy equipment arrives this evening. 

Pollnow said no one was injured but there is water damage throughout the building. 

The McHenry County Health Department is working with the owners, he said.