A historic Earlville home went up in flames Thursday morning.

Firefighters responded to the three-story brick home, 4464 E. 1251st Road, built by Charles Sutphen, founder of Earlville, at 7:06 a.m.

"Somebody drove by and saw the smoke coming from the house," said Earlville Fire Chief Larry Todd.

The cause is suspected to be electrical, although Todd said the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal.

"It started up on the third floor near a bedroom," Todd said. "It was burning through the roof in that area when I got there."

It took a few hours to extinguish the fire, Todd said.

Todd said 20 to 30 firefighters from Mendota, Paw Paw, Troy Grove and Leland responded.

According to city lore, Earlville's first post office was built on the site, said Maureen Corrigan, a former Earlville librarian who served for 28 years.

Owner Mike Cherry said he purchased the home 20 years ago and had been working on renovations the past 10 years. Cherry was restoring the 1853 house to pre-Civil War style.

Cherry, who lives in the house alone, said he was at his parent's house in Hinckley when the fire broke out.

He met with an agent from his insurance company Thursday, but has not learned whether the house is a total loss.

"More than likely it is, but he's not confirming anything," Cherry said. "It's mostly smoke and water damage. Every room was damaged."