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House next to church also 100 years old
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
The house that fire officials say burst into flames early Monday, destroying a church next door as well as the home, was more than 100 years old — as was the church.
The 1018 Shehy Ave. home is owned by Irene Bugno and had been in the Bugno family since it was built in 1913, said her grandson, Alex Bugno.
The house was a total loss, and so was his grandmother’s artwork, he said Tuesday. He said she has painted all her life, and those paintings now are gone.
“All of her artwork is in there,” her grandson said.
Irene Bugno painted portraits of her husband, children and grandchildren, and all those were in the home at the time of the fire.
Her home caught fire, and the blaze spread to Grace Temple Evangelistic Ministries next door. The church, which was built in 1902, was destroyed along with the home. Firefighters were called out about 3 a.m. and tried to save the church but could not. They said the home already was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived.
Irene Bugno is recuperating from cancer surgery at a local nursing home and is expected to be released soon, her grandson said. He said she will probably move in with him now that her house has been destroyed.
Her husband and Alex Bugno’s grandfather, Edward Bugno, died May 11, 2013. He noted it was a year and a day from when the house and church burned down.
Alex Bugno said the home had unique oak woodwork, and there also were grapevines in the backyard.
“They used to do their own wine in the house,” Alex Bugno said. “It was just a very nice, laid-out house.”
He said his grandmother was told late Monday afternoon of the fire.
“She took it well, but I don’t think it’s hit her yet,” the grandson said.
Alex Bugno said his grandparents were married for 60 years and had six children. Before the home belonged to his grandfather, it belonged to his great-grandfather.
Tuesday, people still were driving by the church and looking at the ruins, taking pictures with their phones. Workers also were checking the siding on a house across the street from the church that was warped from the heat of the fire.
Fire Chief John O’Neill said investigators still do not know what may have caused the fire.