ARCHIVES: Remembering the Crafters Village Fire 10th Anniversary

At 7:22 p.m. Jan. 4, 2010, eight area fire departments were dispatched to Crafters Village in Peru for a massive structure fire. Upon arrival, firefighters saw heavy smoke, and flames were visible coming from the peak of the 47,000-square-foot building. Firefighters fought the blaze for nine hours. Two firefighters suffered minor injures, both related to icy conditions caused by the water spray and the near-zero degrees temperatures that evening. No occupants were inside the building when the fire broke out.

The building was built in 1974 as the Ivy Racquet and Health Club. The craft shop was a popular destination for local crafters and antiquers. In addition to Crafters Village, an indoor pool was used at the time by the city of Peru, St. Margaret’s Health of Spring Valley and the Lighted Way Association; and an indoor tennis court, leased by the members of Court One, a local tennis players’ club.

Absolute Fun, a large indoor playground and ball pit for children, occupied the building before Crafters Village opened.