Hickory Masonic Lodge roof collapses

HICKORY CORNERS, Mich. (WOOD) - Too much rain caused a large portion of the roof to collapse at the Hickory Masonic Lodge in Hickory Corners.

Gene Newell was on the roof when it happened around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

"I was up there getting ready to drain it and started hearing some cracking and I started running," Newell told 24 Hour News 8.

He was able to run to the other side of the roof before it fell and was not injured.

Dozens of bricks fell from the rooftop. The destructive rumble was so loud it could be heard from the service station across the street.

"It was like a big loud crash," said employee Laura Ryan. "We thought it was the Coke guy getting out his product."

The debris causes a lot of damage inside the building, and officials say the building may not be salvageable.

Contractors say snow melt and recent rain on a centuries-old structure with a flat roof was just too much to bear.

"It was just all captured up there and I think it was just too much weight for the building," said contractor Jack Arnold.

It is fortunate the collapse did not occur the night before, as 25 people attended a ceremony inside the building.

Wednesday, treasures steeped in tradition were pulled from the rubble one by one: A secret ballot box and black books with the names of each member since 1877. The 586th name was added Tuesday night.

And the lodge's charter, though tattered and torn, was saved.

"I don't think this building is reparable, but we'll have to see." said lodge member Ron Wilson.

Members of the lodge here are still trying to decide if they will rebuild. They will get an insurance estimate and go from there.