Fire severely damages Stagecoach Inn

Fire ripped through The Old Groton Inn last night, doing severe damage to a historic building dating to 1678. Firefighters from around the region responded to the blaze, and the first crews arrived to find fire shooting through the roof, said State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan. The building on Route 119 is also known as the Stagecoach Inn and features a restaurant, inn, and function space. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. There were no reports of injuries. The building appeared to be a total loss, and crews planned to continue pouring water on it overnight, Coan said.