Days before a Norristown Memorial prepared to host a concert, the building tragically caught fire, reports Raymond Strickland for CBS News. The community rallied, however to ensure that the show would go on.

Last Wednesday, the 81-year old Fire Chief Memorial Bandshell caught fire early morning. The two-alarm fire burned through the roof, destroying the building. 

The Memorial nestled within Elmwood Park Zoo expected to host Norristown’s Summer Concert Series last Sunday. Rather than cancel the live music, the community moved quickly to relocate the event to Latshaw Field, a neighboring baseball field.

“I’m not going to let a fire stop the good things happening in the community,” said Norristown Fire Chief Tom O’Donnell.

The show went on as scheduled as two local rock bands entertained the community.

The Memorial was a beloved fixture within the community, but O’Donnell says it will be back.

“We’re going to rebuild and that fire chief’s memorial will be back, bigger and better than it ever was,” he said.

Read more about how Norristown rallied to keep the music alive at CBS News.

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