Fire has destroyed a historic New Jersey inn that once hosted George Washington . Firefighters found smoke coming from The Sergeantsville Inn in Delaware Township early Monday . But flames eventually tore through the roof of the two-story stone structure that is more than 300 years old . Historic structure : The 300-year-old Sergeantsville Inn in New Jersey caught fire early Monday morning . The historic inn once hosted George Washington . All that remains : The cause of the fire is still under investigation . Inn owner Joe Clyde says he plans to rebuild , if possible . Above , Joe 's wife Lisa Clyde ( left ) is hugged by neighbors in the aftermath of the fire . Mayor Roger Locandro tells CBS that the inn is the center of the town . 'This is the place people would come after a township meeting . The town hall is right across the street . My kids have had their birthday parties there . It ’ s a terrible loss for our community , ' Locandro said . The cause of the fire is still under investigation . One firefighter sustained a minor knee injury fighting the blaze . Owner Joe Clyde told the Hunterdon County Democrat that he plans to rebuild the inn if possible . Mr Clyde and his wife lisa have been running the property as a fine-dining restaurant since 1999 . Dangerous blaze : One firefighter sustained a minor knee injury fighting the blaze . Loss : Mayor Roger Locandro described the Sergeantsville Inn as the center of the town , where people would eat on special occasions . The original part of the building traces back to the 1700s when it was built as a private home in the village then called Skunktown , according to the restaurant 's website . When a post office opened in the town in 1827 , the name was changed to Sergeantsville . Another addition was added in 1830 , and in 1869 the building was sold to a Farley Shepherd who ran a general inside . His son Edward took over the business in 1900 and during the 1930s , the store was run as both an ice cream parlor and feed store . Its next owner John Balanar obtained a liquor license for the store at the end of prohibition , and it was run as a tavern for several years . Restaurant : The Clydes have run the Sergeantsville Inn since 1999 . Before that , the building was used as a tavern , ice cream parlor , private home , and general store at different periods in the past . Owner Joe Clyde is seen on the left , wearing a hat . His wife Lisa , center . Many lives : The original part of the building traces back to the 1700s when it was built as a private home in the village then called Skunktown , according to the restaurant 's website . Before : Above , a view of the Sergeantsville Inn before the fire early Monday morning .
A fire broke out at the Sergeantsville Inn in Delaware Township , New Jersey early Monday morning . The blaze was reported around Owner Joe Clyde says he plans to rebuild if possible . The original part of the building dates back to the 1700s .