A fire significantly damaged a historic building that is part of the St. Matthew’s Cathedral campus in Old East Dallas early Wednesday, according to the leader of the Episcopal church.
The Rev. Robert Price, dean of St. Matthew’s Cathedral, said the blaze damaged Garrett Hall, which serves as an office building for the facility.
Before it closed in 1930, the structure was a dormitory for St. Mary’s College at Dallas, a post-secondary school for women, according to the church’s website. The Texas State Historical Association website states that Lady Bird Johnson, the wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson, attended the college.
Although the fire affected all three floors of Garrett Hall, Price said, the most significant damage was done to the interior of the first floor. The building is structurally sound, Price said, adding that the main cathedral, built in 1908, was not damaged by the fire.
“We’ve begun the process of remediation and restoration of the building to its full usefulness to the parish and community,” Price said.
Shortly before 3 a.m., fire crews responded to the fire at the church facility in the 5100 block of Ross Avenue, according to Dallas Fire-Rescue.
The fire was put out within an hour of emergency crews arriving, but a firefighter was injured after the blaze was extinguished, said Jason Evans, a Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman.
No details were provided regarding the cause of the firefighter’s injuries, but Evans said the firefighter had been discharged from a medical facility as of Wednesday morning.
The cathedral had been undergoing renovation work, but the cause of the fire has not been determined, Evans said.
Because of the renovation work, Price said, all historical artifacts and documents that were housed in the office building had been moved out of the structure.
“We’re very blessed to not have lost anything of significant historical value,” he said.
Price said he has informed parish members about the fire and said his prayers are with the firefighter who was injured.
“We are reminded ever more forcefully that the church is a people, not a place, and that when we are faithful to each other in love and service, especially in times of suffering and grief, we reflect the faithfulness of God in Jesus Messiah to the world,” he wrote in his email to the congregation.
