The Sands Dorsey Drugstore building in the downtown area of the Route 66 town of Tucumcari, N.M., was destroyed by fire Friday.
The building was not on Route 66, but the nearly century-old building at Second and Main streets was a landmark.
The building was home to Gallery 111, owned by artists Doug and Sharon Quarles, who have painted several murals along Route 66 in town. Fortunately, the Quarleses saved the artwork from the flames.
According to the Quay County Sun in Tucumcari, the fire marshal is investigating. However, Mike Callens of Teepee Curios, who shot these photographs, said “the current owner of the building was putting on a new roof, and hot tar was involved. He had shut down for the day and a couple of hours later the fire started.”
The fire burned well into Saturday. The building is described as a total loss. Parts of nearby streets have been barricaded for fear that parts of the building could collapse.
(Photos by Mike Callens.)