Ellington

OPELOUSAS, La. (AP) — Fire has destroyed an antebellum plantation house that served as the governor's mansion for nine months during the Civil War.

Fire officials from the city of Opelousas (op-uh-LOO-suhs) tell news outlets the fire broke out early Thursday.

Opelousas is located 55 miles west of Baton Rouge. It was Louisiana's capital for about nine months in 1862 and 1863, while Union troops held Baton Rouge.

Gov. Thomas O. Moore lived and had his headquarters in the building.

Authorities say nobody was in the Old Governor's Mansion when the fire began.

Preservationists of St. Landry President James Douget (doh-gay) says it had been vacant for a couple of years, during renovations. He says various owners had lived there before that.

He says he went to the house Thursday and "saw one of Louisiana's treasures in ashes."