Massive fire at historic St. Paul house across from Cathedral

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) - St. Paul firefighters are on the scene of a massive fire at an historic stone house across from the Cathedral of St. Paul. Firefighters started to attack the fire at 251 Dayton Avenue from inside the house, but had to be ordered out.

Firefighters have already called for another engine and aerial streams. The second floor collapsed onto the first floor during the fire and flames were reported inside the walls and ceilings.

The St. Paul Fire Department reported no injuries from the fire, but two cats died.

According to Minnesota Historical Society records, 251 Dayton is the address of the Stanford Newel House. The limestone house dates back to 1864. Stanford Newel was an attorney and ambassador to the Netherlands under President William McKinley. He served as a member of the St. Paul Park Board and had a park in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood named in his honor.

The family that lived in the house started a GoFundMe page to help offset the cost of finding somewhere new to live, saying that at least half of the house was completely destroyed in the blaze.