Historic "American Beauty" Manor Burned In Massive Fire

Firefighters battled a massive blaze at a historic home in west suburban Hinsdale Wednesday afternoon. Emergency crews responded to the scene in the 300-block of East 6th Street. The home was built in 1899 and is considered a national treasure once known as "American Beauty." "It’s heartbreaking. That house has been a mainstay in Hinsdale for 130 years," said Julie Laux, neighbor. "We’ve just lost a piece of history. We’ve lost a way to connect to our past. This is elegant and gracious and just a reminder of when life was so much different than it is right now."