Vince Suglia of Robeson Township, owner of Country Additions Furniture, says he’ll use an undamaged part of the building and maybe add to it.


By Ron Devlin
Reading Eagle

Birdsboro, PA -  The owner of a Birdsboro landmark that went up in flames over the weekend insists he’ll rebuild his furniture-making business, perhaps on the same site where its ruins stand.

Vince Suglia of Robeson Township, owner of Country Additions Furniture, said he may use what’s left of the badly damaged building and possibly add a section.

“We’re considering rebuilding the business right where it was,” Suglia said. “We’re going to start all over again.”

Suglia estimated the loss at $500,000 from the Saturday morn ing blaze that ripped through the 126-year-old former factory at 420 Beacon St., once occupied by Valley Forge Flag Co.

About half of the massive 19th-century factory was gutted and the rest sustained extensive water and smoke damage, fire officials said.

A firewall kept the blaze from spreading to a wing of the L-shaped structure, they said.

The building housed a furniture showroom, workshop and storage area. Country Additions manufactures rustic tables, hutches and other furniture.

Fire investigators from the Berks County district attorney’s office combed the ruins Saturday but have yet to determine the cause.

Workers with Haines & Kibblehouse moved a crane onto the site Sunday, but demolition is awaiting a damage assessment by Suglia’s insurance company.

About 100 firefighters needed roughly three hours to control the blaze, which started about 10 a.m.

•Contact reporter Ron Devlin at 610-371-5030 or rdevlin@readingeagle.com.