Vinton gets back to business after devastating fire leaves ‘a big hole in the downtown’
The fire torched years of history while blazing through a tight row of brick-sided buildings built between 1875 and 1903. It's hard to miss the damage that remains on
"I always thought that block was the showcase of town," said
The buildings housing Clingman and Michael &
"People walk by that area and remember what it used to be like and it is felt," Clingman said. "It's as if there's a big hole in the downtown."
The fire burned for three days, starting in Michael & Dowd and spreading to Clingman and the Fisher building, aided by wind gusts. Benton County Title mainly suffered smoke and water damage.
While three insurance companies conducted a joint investigation, no cause was ever determined, Fire Chief
"The damage was so severe, they couldn't tell," he said. "They knew where it started, but we don't know the cause."
Business owners are curious about what happened, but suspect they will never know. They aren't dwelling on it too much, though, as they focus on moving forward. They are each at different stages.
City Administrator
"The business owners do want to keep their businesses going and keep them here," he said. "I don't hear anyone saying, 'I want to pack up and leave,' because this is home."
The Clingman site has been excavated and Clingman wants to rebuild, but the owners have yet to settle on plans. It could be a couple of years before the pharmacy can move back, he said.
A competing pharmacy, LaGrange, which also is located on Fourth, took in Clingman's for about three weeks following the fire to help. But Clingman is filling prescriptions from its own location now on the southwest corner of Fourth and First, a few storefronts down from its old spot.
The space is about a quarter the size of the old building, so the business stripped down its offerings, which used to include consignment goods, to bare bones pharmacy services.
"We are trying to bring some personality into this, but it's hard," he said, lamenting the loss of the historic features of his old building,
Owners of Michael & Dowd have been most aggressive in rebuilding. The old building is gone, and a foundation already has been poured for its replacement in hopes of opening by the holidays.
The store has a temporary location a block west on
Third-generation owner
"We are just so grateful for what we have in our community," she said. "We are so blessed to have our fire department, police, city council, hospital. It's overwhelming and humbling to hear how much you've meant to people and their lives. That's what I love abut living in a small community."
Scars from the fire still are evident at the Fischer building where
Fischer reopened within a few days a few doors to the west on the same block, which was important given that it was tax season.
Thirty years of wet, moldy client files sit ruined in the basement and need to be cleared out. He wants to get going with rebuilding as quickly as he can, he said.
"I learned the community is very supportive. I also learned I need to plan ahead better," he said of protecting his files.
Vinton County Title reopened adjacent to its old neighbor -- Fischer -- while missing only a couple days of work.
City administrator Ward said the city has tried to assist the businesses, such as waiving the building permit process and fees for rebuilding, working with the
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