“It’s Thanksgiving, so the fires will be starting now,” someone remarked on social media–I recall reading somewhere. What a far too accurate portent. I woke up on Black Friday, and sadly, they were right. Crunden Martin, that stunning abandoned warehouse/factory complex I’ve looked at around a half dozen times over the years, was being consumed by one of the largest fires I’ve ever seen, just a day or so after the horrific fire in Hong Kong.

Let’s start with the good news: St. Mary of Victories, the second oldest church in St. Louis and easily one of the most historic buildings in the city, designed by George I. Barnett is safe.

According to the church’s social media, firefighters hosed down the adjacent building seen in the two above photographs, keeping both buildings safe. Ironically, the Crunden-Martin building above had already been gutted by fire back in 2011, so maybe there was nothing to ignite.

That’s where the good news ends; it’s all bad news from here on out.

Working west to east, the next building is a total loss, and has almost completely collapsed except for what seems to be a corner stairway tower.

To say it’s totally depressing to see is an understatement.

I photographed the complex one last time back in October of this year, and I’m glad I did since it was my last opportunity.

At the height of the fire, which started at around 3:00 AM, there were apparently upwards of two hundred firefighters working the five alarm blaze.

As you can see, the long facade along Gratiot Street was two buildings constructed several years apart.

The great firm of Mauren, Russell and Garden, and later Crowell designed the complex. While they are perhaps more famous for their Beaux Arts creations, their industrial works are just as important. Crunden-Martin was one of their masterpieces.

While the fire was largely extinguished, the second shift of firefighters was still putting out hotspots.

Moving further east, to the front facing the river and the elevated train tracks, there was still some more action occurring.

Flames were still visible. I stayed a long ways away and caught these photos through the concrete piers by zooming in.

It’s hard to see in the photographs but many of the brick walls are leaning.

The firetruck had just backed in and the firefighters were hooking up hoses to a nearby hydrant that was partially hidden in the undergrowth.

Yeah, that’s not an optical illusion below in the view below.

I don’t know what will become of the proposed development in the area now. It will change everything now forever.