Hundreds of tourists and residents gather on East Central Avenue in Mackinaw City to watch firefighters battle a blaze in the historical building formerly known as the Stimpson House. The building contains a new, unnamed T-shirt shop, JoAnn's Fudge, Shirt Tales, The Mackinaw City Popcorn Factory, and the Twisted Crystal gift shop. No one was hurt when fire tore through one of the oldest buildings in downtown Mackinaw City Monday, June 23, on East Central Avenue. The fire call went out at 2:30 p.m., said Mackinaw City police officer Bob Desy.

A tall plume of black smoke was visible from across the Straits of Mackinac at about 2:45 p.m. Later, it turned into copious white smoke, a good sign that steam replaced burning wood and other materials, as firefighters brought the blaze under control.

Formerly the Stimpson House hotel, the building is now home to several stores and is owned by Citizens National Bank.

The fire likely began in a new, sofar unnamed T-shirt shop which occupied the store formerly called ACatsGrin. Fire, smoke, or water likely damaged other shops on the block, including JoAnn's Fudge, Shirt Tales, The Mackinaw City Popcorn Factory, and the Twisted Crystal gift shop.

A fire blazes on East Central Avenue in Mackinaw City Monday, June 23, at about 3:30 p.m. The building, formerly the Stimpson House hotel, is one of the oldest structures in the village. The fire burned a new T-shirt shop. The cause of the fire remained undetermined at 4:30 p.m. Monday, as the blaze was being brought under control, Mr. Desy told The St. Ignace News.

Hundreds gathered across from the building as the Mackinaw City Fire Department battled the blaze with the St. Ignace Fire Department. Mackinaw City Police, the Emmet County Police, the Michigan State Police, and other relief services helped with effort.

Emmet County Commission Chairman Jim Tamlyn, who was present at the blaze, said fire and police departments responded quickly and did an excellent job of coordinating their efforts.

Early in the blaze, "smoke was pouring right in," said Carol Ward, who works at the Popcorn Factory.

St. Ignace and Mackinaw City fire departments converge to control a fire in the heart of downtown Mackinaw City Monday afternoon, June 23. Ms. Ward ushered children out of the building and left immediately, she said.

The Stimpson House is likely the oldest building in Mackinaw City. Most historians consider the Stimp- sons the first settlers in area, said local historian Nancy Campbell.

Originally an impressive hotel, the building was built by George Stimpson about 1870. He is believed to have come from Maine, she added.

The hotel, later named the Downtown Motor Inn, had a beautiful, long porch which was enclosed and converted into storefronts around the early 1980s, she explained.

Monday's blaze is the second major fire in downtown Mackinaw City in recent years. Monday's fire took place on the block adjacent to where MaMa Mia's Pizzeria and Restaurant, and the Original Mackinaw Bridge Historic Museum and Gift shop was nearly destroyed by fire August 28, 2005.

No further information about the fire was available at press time.