YIKES!! A Fire near Jacoby Arts Center

This is the back of Jacoby from across the lot at Kentucky Fried Chicken

October 1 was the Innovations Bus Tour for outlying galleries.  The bus arrived on schedule at 3:10 pm but could get no closer than 1/2 block away due to a fire at the end of a block long building that is across the alley from Jacoby Arts Center on Broadway in Alton.  Broadway was blocked off at Henry Street.

Police prevented our visitors from unloading and walking down to the gallery despite many spectators in the area.  I was so disappointed.

The fire started about 12:30 pm and by 6 pm several trucks from four fire departments were there battling from Broadway and the large parking lot at the back.

I'm standing in front of Jacoby looking down Broadway around 3 pm

Taken from behind Jacoby around 6 pm.

Firemen had temporarily stopped blasting with hoses and flames erupted at 6 pm.

Broadway looking towards Henry with the hoses snaking around.

On Broadway across the street from Jacoby.  Fire is in end of this building.

An alley separates Jacoby from the block where the fire is.

Two businesses and some apartments were destroyed at the far end of the building which was mentioned as being "historic".  It has a "modern" exterior however and fortunately the fire is at the far end away from Jacoby.  Here's hoping it doesn't spread any closer.  It looks like one big long building with several businesses on the ground level.   The people who lived there and the businesses lost everything.  Too sad.