Police say a fire tore through a historic Newburgh home on Elmhurst Avenue Sunday.

The house, which stands at 19 Elmhurst Ave. dates back to the early 1700s and is considered one of the oldest structures in Town of Newburgh history. A fire ripped through the second story of the home, destroying the interior of the house.

Firefighters say they are unsure the house will withstand the damage. The homeowners spent Monday sifting through the remnants, which included a book from 1891 and a pre-World War I edition of the New York Times.

The home was originally a carriage house on a plantation. The Red Cross was on hand to help the family find temporary housing. Family members say they are still looking for their three cats, who went missing during the fire.