Historic Episcopal Church in destroyed by fire

The cause of Sunday’s (March 12) fire that destroyed the Church of the Holy Trinity, McPhetre’s Hall and a nearby home is still under investigation.

Juneau firefighters were able to save surrounding structures except the home that was owned by Shelby Edwards. Next door, the old Juneau Gold Street Inn, formerly known as Cashen Quarters, was not damaged. The value of the structures and contents lost in the fire is not yet clear, though estimates of the Episcopal church buildings are a million dollars. Holy Trinity was insured.

The Catholic Cathedral on Fifth Street immediately opened its Parrish Hall to Holy Trinity for Sunday services. One block below at Fourth and Gold streets, was the burning church. The building was registered as a National Historic Landmark and was the second oldest church structure in the capital city. But as Rosemarie Alexander reports, a church is not a building, but a body of believers.

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