Cities across state hit with landmark downtown losses

Tom Sines | Dispatch file photo A fire burned the Old Taft Hotel in Newark in 1981. Fred Shannon | Dispatch file photo Six street-level stores and second-story apartments were destroyed on South Court street in Athens in 1984. AP file photo Six street-level stores and second-story apartments were destroyed on South Court street in Athens in 1984. Mike Munden | Dispatch file photo Workers remove rubble from the site of what used to be a Huntington Bank across the street from the Union County courthouse in Marysville, April, 2000. Frank Hinchey | Dispatch file photo Firefighters put water on the front of Bun's Restaurant in downtown Delaware, a local landmark since 1889. Tim Revell | Dispatch file photo Bun's restaurant burns in Delaware, March 4, 2002. Eric Albrecht | Dispatch file photo A fire in downtown Newark destroyed two stores in 2002. James D. DeCamp | Dispatch file photo The landmark Carlisle Building in downtown Chillicothe is vacant, April, 2007. The building was gutted by fire in 2003. Alan Miller | Dispatch file photo In 2005 Coshocton firefighters pour water on the smoldering Park Hotel, directly across the street from the Coshocton County Courthouse. Neal C. Lauron | Dispatch file photo A firefighter catches his breath while battling a fire in the Historic District of Chillicothe, July 17, 2006. Fred Squillante | Dispatch file photo While tearing down buildings around the Majestic Theatre in Chillicothe after a huge fire in 2006, an old Mail Pouch Tobacco mural was discovered. Kirk Irwin | Dispatch file photo Firefighters work to put out a fire in downtown Lancaster, September 11, 2007. Kirk Irwin | Dispatch file photo Deb Connel, manager of Art & Clay on Main, and Becky Hajost, owner, hug as firefighters continue to fight a fire next to their store in downtown Lancaster, September 11, 2007. Shari Lewis | Dispatch file photo One of the owners of Mason's Furniture building in downtown Circleville stands amongst the rubble left behind from a fire, Sept., 2008. Shari Lewis | Dispatch file photo The Mason's Furniture building in downtown Circleville was eventually torn down after a 2008 fire. Adam Cairns | Dispatch photo The Emmitt House in Waverly was built in 1861 as a hotel by entrepreneur James Emmitt. It was gutted on Jan. 6, 2014. Adam Cairns | Dispatch photo Emmitt House owner Pam Ison tears up while looking at the still-smoldering remains of her restaurant on Jan. 7, 2014. Adam Cairns | Dispatch photo Waverly residents gaze at the ice-blanketed remains of the Emmitt House, a fixture in the town since 1861. View Slideshow Dispatch file photos Chillicothe: The Carlisle Building was heavily damaged in a fire on April 25, 2003. A developer plans to rehabilitate it and lease office and apartment space to Adena Health System. Downtown damage

Some other notable fires that destroyed or damaged buildings in historic downtown business districts:

Emmitt House in Waverly was destroyed by fire on Jan. 6.

The Majestic Performing Arts Centers ticket and administrative offices were destroyed in a fire that consumed two buildings in Chillicothe on July 17, 2006. The historic Majestic Theatre survived.

Buns Restaurant and Bakery in Delaware was destroyed by a fire on March 4, 2002. The owner reopened Buns in an adjacent building in 2004.

The Huntington National Bank building in Marysville was destroyed by a fire on April 30, 2000. The bank company rebuilt on the site.

Source: Dispatch archives

Chillicothes signature Carlisle Building overlooking the historic downtown business district has sat vacant since a fire a decade ago, but it is about to be restored under plans announced last week.

A developer is to rehabilitate the building and lease it to Adena Health System for office space and apartments for medical residents and staff members.

In Circleville, the empty space where the old American Hotel building stood until a fire consumed it five years ago is to be developed this year as a park.

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Cities across state hit with landmark downtown losses