NORTH RIDGEVILLE — About $50,000 in damage was done to a 145-year-old home Thursday when an attached garage caught fire.

North Ridgeville Assistant Chief Scott Bement said the fire started at noon on the second floor of the garage attached to the 3,274-square-foot, two-story home on Otten Road. The cause has not yet been determined.

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A plaque near the driveway declares that the house, owned by Frank Masny, was built in 1864. Bill Bird, executive director with the Lorain County Historical Society, confirmed that the home was registered as a Century Home through its organization in May 1976.

“Most of the fire was in the back garage, but it did get upstairs into one corner of the house and into the attic,” Bement said, adding that the fire is not considered suspicious at this time.

Historical Society records show that the property was acquired by Mathias Otten in 1849, Bird said.

Joe Masny, a son of the current owner, lives in the house and was home when the fire started, Bement said, adding that no one was hurt. The family could not be reached for comment.

Firefighters from North Ridgeville, Avon, Sheffield and Elyria had the fire under control in about 45 minutes, Bement said.

Frigid temperatures Thursday and bitter winds hindered the firefighters’ efforts, Bement said.

“It made things very slippery,” Bement said. “Icy ladders, equipment freezing up. The guys inside are a solid sheet of ice.”

The fire remains under investigation.

Contact Alicia Castelli at 329-7144 or acastelli@chroniclet.com.

Photos by Chronicle Photo Chief Bruce Bishop. Purchase a print.

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