Loss

An historic United Methodist Church caught fire on Sunday, just before the youth group was scheduled to meet. The neighborhood church drew a crowd - about 150 people stood on the surrounding street corners, some of them crying, as the roof collapsed in the flames. The pastor led the youth away from the building as the firemen moved the line back and the blaze grew stronger. In the third image, looking through a window that once held stained glass, the brass knob at the end of the altar rail is visible under the pile of debris. Federal invesitgative teams were brought in, but the fire was ultimately ruled accidental. All of the rafters, utility pipes and fallen luber were lifted through the roof, in hopes of salvaging what was left of the brick walls and windows.