Fire Damages Historic Music Hall Building in New Jersey Town

Fire caused extensive damage Sunday to a historic music hall building in a riverfront town in New Jersey.

Firefighters arrived at about 9 a.m. at the building in Clinton to find flames tearing through the upper floors.

The Clinton Music Hall building, now known as Clinton Center, was once a 300-seat venue for music, theater and film. Today, it's home to several small businesses.

The blaze caused the third floor of the structure to collapse, fire officials said.

The cause of the fire was still under investigation.

The original building, constructed in 1880, served as a stable for horses and mules, according to the town's website. Fire soon destroyed the building, but another was constructed at the same site in 1881 and the music hall was located on its ground floor.

From about 1890 to 1904, the music hall offered audiences a variety of entertainment, from stock theater productions to vaudeville acts. Music recitals, literary events and early cinema also filled the seats.

An auto dealer purchased the building in 1915, all but bringing an end to The Clinton Music Hall as an entertainment center.

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