An early morning blaze reduced what was once a popular ballroom to rubble. Although The Hub, built by Bert Potter in 1938, was sold almost 40 years later, Potters family says the original ballroom had a rich history.

"It was gonna be a showroom for the implement company, but they had a dance to show it to the people, and the convinced him to have another dance", said Virginia Pierson.

Pierson, Bert's Daughter says opening night was free and was so packed, Potter decided to charge the next week.

"25 cents thinking they wouldn't have as many people, but more people came", said Pierson.

And she said the talent kept coming too.

"Guy Lombardo, Wayne King, Lawrence Welk, Tim Times, we lost money on him the first time, but not after that".

Pierson says there were hundreds and sometimes thousands of people that would come to hear the likes of the notable performers. "They came from all over a 100-mile radius. Girls came, boys came, we danced together, it was just a wonderful place to have".

But Wednesday morning, firefighters say it was the old building's charm that led to its demise.

"It took no time at all before the fire engulfed the whole structure with the way it's built, the wood dance floors", said firefighter Jeff Troutman, of the Akron-Princeville Fire Department.

Firefighters from about a half dozen area departments battled the blaze in the wee hours of the morning. "We found the entire south end of the structure engulfed", said Troutman.

Craig Potter, grandson of the Hub Ballroom's creator, says it's quite a loss. Not only for the town of Edelstein, but for the thousands upon thousands who danced the wooden floors of the HUB in its prime.

"That's sad. It was a hell of a place. It really was", said Potter.