Fire Damages Historic Structure on UConn's Storrs Campus; Part of Route 195 Closed

The historic Whitney House on the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs is heavily damaged after a fire early Friday morning.

UConn said the university’s class and work schedules are not affected.

The Whitney House, located on Route 195 in Storrs in front of Mirror Lake, dates to around 1800 and is one of the oldest structures on campus, according to UConn. It is not currently in use.

The fire was under control by 8 a.m.

UConn said Whitney House was once the home of Edwina Whitney, an early librarian and instructor when the institution was the Connecticut Agricultural College.

The school said it has been used for many purposes in the time that UConn has owned it, including as the International House in the 1960s and as the home of the Rainbow Center in the 1990s and early 2000s.

It was not in use at the time of the fire but it was being regularly maintained, according to UConn.

UConn said Whitney House was originally reported as the oldest structure at UConn Storrs. However, it now appears it may have been built on materials moved there from an earlier structure elsewhere, and that one of the Whitney House foundation stones was engraved with the earlier date.

UConn Public Safety was notified of the fire around 6 a.m. and UConn said the building was almost fully engulfed at one point and the damage is extensive.

The UConn fire marshal’s office is working with others to determine the cause of the fire.

UConn said fencing is being erected around the building and it will be boarded as a safety precaution amid the investigation.