[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=26641

Mansion catches fire
No one injured in blaze; firefighters also help infant resume breathing

Alicia Ebaugh
Staff Writer

MICHIGAN CITY - One of Franklin Street's most recognized homes caught fire early Monday, resulting in extensive water damage and its signature green, clay-tiled roof riddled with holes.

And in an unrelated matter, firefighters on scene helped a baby on its way to the hospital resume breathing when its parents brought it there for medical help.

At about 4:30 a.m., firefighters were still dousing hot spots in the attic when the parents of a baby stopped in the street because their child wasn't breathing, said Jeff Santana, the fire department's public-information officer.

"They handed the baby over to one of the firefighters and he started working on her right away," Santana said. "Others scrambled for some medical equipment to help out while keeping an eye on the house."

The child's parents were taking her to the hospital when they came across the fire scene, Santana said. Thanks to their assistance, he said, the baby was resuscitated and rushed to St. Anthony Memorial by ambulance for further attention.

The five-bedroom mansion at 106 Earl Road has been at Franklin Street and Earl Road since 1929, according to La Porte County assessor's records. Firefighters were called there about 1:39 a.m. for flames and smoke coming from the home's roof, Santana said.

"It took at least an hour and a half to contain it," Santana said. "The residents were just in shock. At least they were able to escape."

The residents, Peter and Barb Riester, awoke shortly before 1:30 a.m. to the smell of smoke, Santana said. When they opened the door to the attic, a thick, gray cloud escaped.

"They're very lucky they woke up when they did," Santana said. "They didn't see any flames when they first saw what was happening, but minutes later the roof was on fire. Flames spread very fast."

Only the roof and the attic area were burned, Santana said, but the hundreds of gallons of water used to put out the flames washed through the other two stories of the home. The attic was being used for storage. The home's walls, made of brick, are seemingly sound.

"It will definitely need a new roof, but so far it looks like if the owners remediate it, it should be livable again," he said. The property will need to be secured with a fence because the roof tiles keep falling off.

"They're really heavy, like 30 pounds each," Santana said.

The Riesters declined American Red Cross assistance and are staying with a son in Michigan City, Santana said.

The French Colonial-style mansion isn't on any historical registry, city historian Arlene Tarasick said. But three prominent Michigan City families have called it home. Harry B. Tuthill, La Porte County Superior Court 1 judge from 1897 to 1914, commissioned the house be built for him and his wife, Alice, Tarasick said. In the late 1940s, Henry Winski, co-founder of Northern Indiana Steel Supply Co. of Michigan City, bought the mansion from them, said their son, O. Jerrold Winski, a Michigan City attorney.

"I lived there from about fifth or sixth grade through high school and a little bit after that," Winski said. "Of course, I felt sad, hearing about the fire there. It brought back a lot of memories from growing up."

Winski said his favorite thing about the home was a large mural of the Chicago skyline etched into a granite wall in the basement lounge area. That mural is still there, said current owners Leslie and Dr. Rade Pejic, a local surgeon. They bought the home in 1978.

"When we got it, it was like a fantasy. It's such a gorgeous home, we never wanted to sell it," Leslie Pejic said. "Hopefully, the damage looks worse than it really is."

The Riesters have rented the home from her and her husband for the last 23 years, Leslie Pejic said.

"We got a phone call from our daughter at 2 a.m. about it," she said. "My heart just stopped, but thankfully everyone was OK."

[taxthedeer]

A lot of people that are new to Michigan City keep coming on social media are wanting to know what the story is with this property. The Pejic’s sold the property to the current owners in 2010. People are constantly going up and knocking on the neighbor’s door inquiring.

Sadly three people mentioned in the article have passed away, Jeff Santana, OJ Winski and Dr. Rade Pejic. We miss them all very much.