Oliver Traphagen House fire was arson, officials say

Historic Oliver Traphagen House in Duluth, Minn.
A view of the Oliver Traphagen House, located on E. Superior St., in Duluth, Minn., as photographed in March 2013.
Joel Abroad via Flickr

A fire that damaged the historic Oliver Traphagen House Monday was deliberately set, according to Duluth officials.

The fire was first reported around 1 a.m. When firefighters arrived, flames were shooting out a first floor window of the mansion on Superior St., about a mile east of downtown.

Duluth police say they don't know if there's a connection to another incident across the street, in which a "bottle with an accelerant" was thrown through a building's window.

Oliver Traphagen was an architect who designed several prominent Duluth buildings in the late 1800s. The three-story red stone mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is on the market for about $750,000. The fire caused more than $150,000 in damage.

Earlier: Early morning fire heavily damages a Duluth landmark

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