Monroe Street fire does not extinguish memories of greater times

For many who grew up in the Old High area of Wichita Falls, Monday's 3-alarm fire at a business strip on Monroe Street must have them looking back on days long since gone.

The commercial building caught fire shortly before 4 p.m. and while it claimed a piece of Wichita Falls history, thankfully many wonderful memories are still intact.

The black ash and mangled debris left behind by the blaze serves as a tragic reminder of what used to be an historic shopping area in wichita falls.

Julie Coley, a former business owner at the Monroe Street Shopping Center, the fire brought back many fond memories.

"For anybody that's ever lived in Wichita Falls back in the 40s, 50s, 60s, that went to Old High, they know this shopping center as the place to hangout," Coley says.

Coley reminisced about the old movie theater, diners, book stores and barber shops that once lined the street.

"I was so afraid that it was all going to go down because there's so much history in this little one block neighborhood that is just terrified me that is was all going to burn," Coley says.

However, it was the quick action by Wichita Falls firefighters that kept flames from spreading to neighboring units.

Coley says, "The most important thing is that the firefighters did save most of the building and seeing the pictures from yesterday, they absolutely did an amazing job."

For current business owners like Pauline Robinson, the clean up has begun.

She has to spray perfume to get rid of the smell of smoke and is still waiting for the power to come back on.

A reminder of some of the memories that went up in smoke.

"I go back to all the things that use to be here, thinking, 'Oh my gosh, my building has burned,'" Robinson says. "It's like home to me because I've been here through all different businesses and stuff and I'm still here.... so we're hoping more people come in and open up businesses here because it's been a good one for me."

Hopes of a revival shared by those who grew up in the area.

Wichita Falls fire crews are trying to determine what sparked the flames and total cost in damages.

Robinson says she plans to be back at work as early as tomorrow.