New Rochelle Police initially reported arson as a possible cause of the fire that gutted one of New Rochelle’s most beloved and historic buildings Monday, but now officials say only that the cause of the blaze is under investigation. 

A 3-alarm fire Monday tore though the historic Wildcliff mansion — a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places — as nearly 40 firefighters battled the blaze on a hill overlooking the Long Island Sound at 44 Wildcliff Road.

City workers had just boarded up parts of the mansion a few hours before firefighters responded Monday afternoon,  but New Rochelle City Manager Chuck Strome told reporters that did not likely have anything to do with the blaze

theLoop featured the building in this story from 2012.

“Our fire department is fully engaged in fighting the fire that sadly is claiming one of the city’s significant historic properties — one that I personally have known and loved, and I am deeply saddened by the loss,” Mayor Noam Bramson said in a statement Monday night.

Built in about 1852, and donated to the City of New Rochelle in 1940,  Wildcliff was used as city offices, and housed nonprofit groups, including Wildcliff Natural Science Center, East Coast Performing Arts, and Wildcliff Center for the Arts.

No injuries were reported.