Massachusetts

Fire Destroys Only Restaurant in Royalston

A fire Tuesday destroyed the only restaurant in Royalston, Massachusetts.

Crews from Winchendon and Athol joined volunteer firefighters from Royalston in responding to the fire at Pete & Henry's Restaurant on Main Street.

"It's my life," said John Cloutier, who has owned the restaurant for decades. "Everything. It's gone."

At one point, firefighters thought they had the flames knocked down. But above, it was still burning in the attic, forcing responders to evacuate.

In the town of about 1,300, almost everybody knows almost everybody else. Fire Chief Keith Newton went to school with Cloutier.

"It's a sad moment," Newton said.

Authorities still aren't sure what caused the fire, but Newton said it appears to have started in the kitchen.

"Just brings tears to my eyes. Everybody loved this place," Newton said. "Devastated."

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