Members of the Fort Smith Museum of History are working to save artifacts from the second oldest building in downtown Fort Smith before it is demolished. "This is not the first time that this building has had a fire. It's happened at least twice before. There was a third floor, up there. And that was lost to fire. But it's held on and I'm hoping for that same comeback," Fort Smith Museum of History Executive Director, Caroline Speir, said. "That's what we do, is tell the story of Fort Smith and, unfortunately, this is a story that now needs to be told outside of what has traditionally been told."On November 6, 2024, a fire destroyed the building that was built in the 1870's. It's where Bricktown Brewery and Adelaide Hall were located.The fire left the east wall of the building unstable, with fears that it could collapse.The only option is to tear down and rebuild, according to Jana Mundy, Vice President of Property Management with Griffin Properties in Fort Smith.Demolition is set to start at the beginning of the year, if not sooner. Mundy told 40/29 News that there's no timeframe for when new construction is expected to be complete, but Mundy said architects will work to preserve the historical accuracy of the building as best they can.Bricktown Brewery has committed to return to the location once work is complete. Mundy said. Speir told 40/29 News that the museum will work to preserve and display artifacts from the original building that has been a part of Fort Smith's history for more than 150 years."Potentially, if there are a few larger pieces that are able to be salvaged, we may be able to have like a piece of the stained glass, but we'll see how that goes," Speir said.
Members of the Fort Smith Museum of History are working to save artifacts from the second oldest building in downtown Fort Smith before it is demolished.
"This is not the first time that this building has had a fire. It's happened at least twice before. There was a third floor, up there. And that was lost to fire. But it's held on and I'm hoping for that same comeback," Fort Smith Museum of History Executive Director, Caroline Speir, said. "That's what we do, is tell the story of Fort Smith and, unfortunately, this is a story that now needs to be told outside of what has traditionally been told."
On November 6, 2024, a fire destroyed the building that was built in the 1870's. It's where Bricktown Brewery and Adelaide Hall were located.
The fire left the east wall of the building unstable, with fears that it could collapse.
The only option is to tear down and rebuild, according to Jana Mundy, Vice President of Property Management with Griffin Properties in Fort Smith.
Demolition is set to start at the beginning of the year, if not sooner. Mundy told 40/29 News that there's no timeframe for when new construction is expected to be complete, but Mundy said architects will work to preserve the historical accuracy of the building as best they can.
Bricktown Brewery has committed to return to the location once work is complete. Mundy said.
Speir told 40/29 News that the museum will work to preserve and display artifacts from the original building that has been a part of Fort Smith's history for more than 150 years.
"Potentially, if there are a few larger pieces that are able to be salvaged, we may be able to have like a piece of the stained glass, but we'll see how that goes," Speir said.