Recovering from a devastating fire, a popular Mackinaw City pizzeria which also served as home to a private museum dedicated to those who built the famous Mackinac Bridge is expected to reopen in July.

J.C. Stilwell said his Mama Mia's Pizzeria and Mackinac Bridge Museum will look very similar to his old facility. Missing will be hundreds of historical artifacts consumed in the fire but donations of more have started coming in from all around the country.

A web site has been established for donations for the museum. It can be accessed at www.mackinacbridgemenmuseum.com. Stilwell says he's already received donations from American Bridge Company, which built much of the bridge, as well as from many ironworkers.

Stilwell, who also was an ironworker on the bridge, opened his museum in 1980, which was dedicated to the construction workers who built the third longest suspension bridge in the world. It kept open from May to October at no charge to the public.

Starting in 1982 he helped create and run the International Ironworkers Festival. Despite the fire the festival is scheduled to continue this year, running from August 11-13.

More than seven different fire departments with over 80 firefighters worked to contain the blaze at the old pizzeria and museum, which caught fire on Aug. 28, 2005. The cause was not identified but electrical or natural gas source is suspected.

(From MichiganConstructionNews.com)