Complex sentence: The formal opening of the club took place on 11 December, 1920, but just days later a fire broke out destroying much of the house, and all that could be salvaged was the façade which has remained intact to this day.
Split into simpler sentences: The formal opening of the club took place on 11 December, 1920, but just days later a fire broke out destroying much of the house. All that could be salvaged was the façade of the house which has remained intact to this day.