Business in downtown Cullman came to a standstill Monday morning as the city’s historic Stiefelmeyer Building caught fire.
Multiple businesses in the building and nearby were evacuated as crews with Cullman Fire and Rescue battled the flames for hours.
Chief Darren Peeples told The Cullman Times that a smoke alarm from a neighboring business, Margo’s Antiques and Gifts, alerted them to the fire at around 3:55 a.m.
The Times reported that flames were visible from the exterior when first responders arrived on scene. However, holes had to be cut into the roof to access the hottest parts of the fire. Later, an excavator was brought in to remove the roof.
The chief said it could take several days to determine the cause of the fire. Power remained shut off in the area through Monday night.
Many in the community expressed sorrow over the loss of the historic landmark.
“The Lord gives things, and the Lord takes things away,” Dan Willingham, the building’s owner, told WBRC. “I’ll miss it, of course, and we might can put it back together, I don’t know.”
U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) said his heart goes out to the Cullman community.
I am deeply saddened by the devastating fire in downtown Cullman that has destroyed the historic Stiefelmeyer Building.
— Robert Aderholt (@Robert_Aderholt) April 13, 2026
This landmark was more than just a structure, it was a rare and irreplaceable piece of Cullman’s history, dating back to the late 1800s and serving as a… pic.twitter.com/yZA0axGfwi
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