An investigation continues into the cause of the fire that destroyed the “Keyhole House” on St Joseph’s Museum Hill.

The house, notable since the 1880s for its unusual window, had, over time, been taken over by drug users and cats.

It had been scheduled for demolition, but recently won a reprieve, according to the city’s Historic Preservation Planner Scott DesPlanques.

“Yesterday it was granted a 20-day stay on the demolition order, to allow the neighborhood association time to get insurance for the property,” DesPlanques said.

“They had a plan to restore it, but, apparently that is not going to happen.”

Nigh Johnson, a volunteer with the Landmark Commission for the City of St Joseph, says the house at 1013 Angelique was about to be recognized among the groups “ten most-endangered” properties in St Joseph.

“The whole west side of the building had collapsed, there was a huge hole from the third floor all the way down to the basement, that had destroyed the side of the building,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the east side of the house featured a “keyhole window,” a window in the shape of an old-fashioned keyhole that set the address apart.

Fire inspectors must now search a huge pile of bricks and rubble for clues as to the cause of the fire. Neighbors say a number of apparent drug users had been using the house, which had also become the home to a large number of cats. It’s not clear if there were any casualties.