It's a place of many memories for folks in Central Illinois and now memories are all that's left of the Hub Ballroom in Edelstein. The historic dance hall went up in flames overnight.

It is an awing but painful sight, fire destroys the Hub Ballroom in Edelstein.

"We found the entire south end of the structure engulfed.," said Jeff Troutman wth Akron-Princeville Fire Department.

In the early morning hours, firefighters from about a half dozen area departments battle the huge blaze.

"Everything is in the basement at this point. There's just not enough water to prevent that," said Troutman.

Crews had to drive in tankers of water so firefighters could extinguish the flames. The fire chief says they knew that they couldn't save the Hub, but their goal was to keep the fire from spreading to surrounding buildings.

"It took no time at all before fire engulfed the whole structure with the way it's built, the wood dance floors," said Troutman.

That old dance floor was the scene of countless celebrations over the years. In it's hey–day the Hub welcomed the best known musicians of the Big Band era.

"We used to come here a lot on Saturdays, dancing and we followed a band that used to play here. Have a good time," said Ruth Medearis, who used to dance there.

Ruth and Bob Medearis don't jitter bug much anymore but they sure have fond memories of the Hub.

"It had a huge wooden dance floor. Tables surrounded that. Big stage, the parking lots were packed! You couldn't hardly find a parking spot," said Ruth Medearis.

"The building was built in the 1930s before World War II. They've had big bands, the likes of Lawrence Welk," said Duane Dean with International Supply.

The names of performers who appeared at the Hub is stunning, some of the biggest in music history.

Lawrence Welk, Guy Lombardo Jimmy Dorsey, the list goes on and on.

"They consider it kind of the biggest thing downstate from Chicago," said Dean.

International Supply purchased the Hub in 1998. Since then it's been rented for weekend events; receptions, weddings and more.
The last function here was just two weekends ago.

"It's been here a long time. It's sad. It hasn't done much for a long time, but it was still here," said Bob Medearis.

And now all that's left is the chimney and a lot memories.

Fire investigators aren't saying much yet about the cause of the blaze... but the State Fire Marshall's office is on the scene.

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