Scott City building destroyed by fire to be demolished

Oct. 22--Although the cause of a Sept. 8 fire that destroyed a more than 100-year-old building in downtown Scott City remains uncertain, the future of the historic building is not.

Preparations are being made to demolish what remains of the two-story building at 417 S. Main St. that previously housed Braun Butcher Block, and the owner has indicated in an online post that he intends to rebuild his business.

Terry and Louise Berning, the owners of the business, did not return messages seeking direct comment.

Scott City Fire Chief Kenneth Hoover said damage to the building was 100 percent and most of it had been removed, leaving only a portion of the front wall. This is the portion that is to be demolished.

Kansas State Fire Marshal Chief of Investigations Rose Rozmiarek has classified the cause of the fire as "undetermined."

Eyewitnesses said the fire started in the butcher shop at about 1 p.m.Sept. 8 while Craig Braun was away for lunch. The day of the fire, Braun said he had no idea what could have caused it.

Fire departments from Scott City, Healy and Dighton were involved in efforts to stop the flames. Local farmers also contributed fire equipment.

Katie Eisenhour, Scott County Development Committee director, said any money the committee gives to the different businesses affected by the fire is only a temporary measure.

"We are helping them to get by in these hard times. We have had many organizations, like churches, hold dinners, and individuals have been remarkable," she said.

Eisenhour said the show of support by Scott City residents does not necessarily make the city unique, pointing out financial strife is affecting everybody these days, and communities always come together in crises like this.

"It is far greater than many people can imagine to have your livelihood go up in smoke from a fire that wasn't even in your building," she said.

Craig Braun posted an update on the shop's Facebook page thanking the community for supporting his family after the tragedy.

"Today was the second of two benefits set up by the First Baptist Church and St. Joseph Church/Knights of Columbus, and words cannot truly express how touched and completely humbled we are by such kindness and generosity!..." the message said in part.

Braun's post also said the butcher shop will reopen.

"We couldn't be more excited to start building back the business that we loved and were so proud of," he said.

Earlier, the administrator of the page had posted that it was uncertain how much longer it would take for the insurance claim to be processed, so they didn't know where they stood from a financial standpoint.

Although the building was described as historic, Jennifer Turner, tourism director for the City of Scott City, said the building wasn't a tourist draw.

"No one really visited it for tourism purposes, and it was not listed as a tourist spot," she said.

In an earlier interview, Chief Hoover, who has been at the Scott City Fire Department for 50 years, said the building that burned down was built in 1905.

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