This is like looking at the charred corpse of a dear friend...  I look at it in stunned disbelief and try to hold back my anger until I know who to be angry with.    Unbelievably sad....  

WOW!! This is so sad.

Very sad indeed. This Friday sucks, all around.

Here's a link to a story that has a picture of the depot fully engulfed before it burned to the ground.

http://www.turnto23.com/new...

photo by john otto

Are there any leads on what happened?

A hot one indeed. The entire face of the Kelcy's building took a lot of heat, check out the blistered paint and cracked windows when you walk by. Good job by the firefighters protecting the surrounding buildings. This could have taken out a large portion of historic downtown. And thank the lord the railroad collection and other antiques destined for the completed building remain safe in another location. 

I have heard that there is evidence of it being an accident.  I am sure that is what will be found.  It turns all our stomachs to imagine that it might have been arson; but that is not the case here, I'm sure.

A damned heartbreak of an accident.  I know nothing about the practicalities, ie insurance, city support, cost, plans, approvals.......    But I assume the depot will be rebuilt with more donations, support, and volunteer help than even before.   I intend to be more involved!

Wayne Thompson

Does anyone know if fire sprinklers had been installed as part of the renovation (or if they were, were they working)? I know lots of buildings all over the U.S. are saved with those. I was just curious if that was part of the renovation of this wood structure. Sometimes to renovate, upgrading commercial buildings with these are required. Just curious.

The sprinklers wee to be completed on Friday, the same day that the fire happened.

Actualy the sprinkler system would not have been in service that soon because although the system would have been in the building, the city would not have had the water connected for several days if not weeks.