Loss of an Icon

     An iconic building in Alabama has been destroyed.

     The Hotel Taisi in Tallassee was destroyed by fire early this morning. The fire started in a small consignment shop behind the old brick hotel, which became well-known for serving a a traditional Sunday buffet dinner.     
     Mayor George McCain says the owners of the consignment shop say only their computer was turned on overnight. The State Fire Marshal's office will investigate.
The destruction of the hotel means a drop in tax income for the city during an already difficult economy, and a loss of jobs for the dozens of people employed there.
     The hotel was built in 1924...it had been purchased by new owners just a month ago. Wylie Troupe, Dawn Bodenburg, Patti Elliott, Nancy Bahr, Gwen Holley, Patti Harrelson, and Karen Newman became partner/owners on October 14th.

     In Janary of 2006 another historic building in that city was destroyed...the old Tallassee Mill warehouse, which used to store military equipment all the way back to the Spanish-American War.

[UPDATE: CBS-8 reports a juvenile suspect is in custody...the fire may have been intentionally set.]