On Tuesday, July 9, 1985, at 5:20 A.M. fire destroyed the 150 year old landmark building located at the intersection of Route 219 and East Warren Road in Custer City. Fire Chief Howard Warfield said the second floor of the building was “fully involved” when the first firemen arrived. “It appeared that the fire had been burning for some time before firemen were called” said Warfield. Ten minutes after arrival, flames broke through the roof. There were no hydrants nearby, so firefighters pumped water from Shep Run Creek and the Tunaguant Creek on East Warren Road, 2,000 feet away. Tankers shuttled water from a hydrant on Owens Way and another hydrant at the Owens-Illinois plant. Seven pumpers and four tankers were used to fight the fire. Mutual aid was received from Bradford City, Lewis Run, Corydon Township and Lafayette Township. Derrick City was on standby. A nearby house on East Warren Road was successfully protected from the fire by firefighters. The fire originated on the first floor, in a room that had an open stairway to the second floor. Fire Chief Howard Warfield and State Police William McQuay determined that an electrical short or overload in a cord used to power a freezer started the fire. Firefighters remained on the scene until 12:50 P.M. Custer City’s first Post Office was located in the building in 1868. It was the Wilbur Brothers Store at the time. In the early 1870’s it was bought by David Conger of Collins, NY, and renamed “Conger and Howard”. In 1942, it was purchased by Joseph Shurilla of Custer City and renamed “The Home Grocery”. When it was sold to Rollie and Magdalene Singer, it was renamed “Singers Country Store.