Arson Suspected In Blaze That Destroyed Historic Downtown Shawnee Building

Fire investigators suspect arson to possibly explain what caused a historic downtown Shawnee building to go up in flames last week.

Firefighters were called Thursday to an abandoned building fire in the 500 block of East Main Street.

“We had to use the ladder truck in order to be able to attack the fire. It turned out that both the roof caved in and the second story floor caved in,” said Shawnee City Manager Andrea Weckmueller-Behringer.

Crews said the building, built in 1907, partially collapsed while on fire. The collapse caused the entire building to become unsafe.

The remainder of the building was demolished by city crews due to fears of public safety ahead of an upcoming Christmas parade.

“It would of taken a wind gust and more, the wall would of come down,” said Weckmueller-Behringer. “Not being able to secure it in the dark for anyone who may have trespassed across the barrier that was put up, that the danger of just leaving the structure as it was too high.”

City officials said utilities were shut off to the abandoned building.

It’s possible area homeless broke into the boarded-up building.

“I know that everybody loved the building because it had the Dr. Pepper mural on the side, and it looked really pretty,” said Weckmueller-Behringer. “There is still a parklet located right next to the building.”

The Pottawatomie County Museum said the building was an old saloon turned hotel and antique shop. It was later abandoned in the 1970s.

“The loss of that building, because it was one of the pretty brick structures we had on the street, that is definitely a loss for the community,” said Weckmueller-Behringer.

It’s unclear what is next for the property.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Shawnee Fire Department at 405-878-1671.