A major fire severely damaged a historic Detroit church overnight, causing heartbreak for residents and historians alike. St. Agnes Church, a 102-year-old building with deep ties to the city’s cultural and religious past, went up in flames on the west side of Detroit near Rosa Parks Boulevard and West Bethune Street. Fire crews acted quickly to prevent a total loss, but much of the adjacent rectory was destroyed.
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Flames Engulf West Side Landmark
The fire started late Monday night, sending large flames into the sky. Video captured by witnesses showed the full scale of the blaze as it spread between the church and its rectory. Residents nearby rushed outside around 1 a.m. to see both historic buildings being consumed by fire. St. Agnes Church, though closed, remains a powerful symbol of Detroit’s legacy. Located near the Motown Museum and Henry Ford Hospital, the church has long stood as a piece of spiritual and architectural history.
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Residents Watch in Shock
Community members gathered as the fire raged, expressing sorrow and disbelief. Victoria Braxton, who lives in the neighborhood, described the heat and size of the flames as overwhelming. “It spread from one building to the next,” she said, adding that the church had a lot of historical value. Ashlie Cummings, another resident, shared similar feelings. “You see the grass is still being cut,” she noted, implying that despite its closure, the building was still cared for. “To walk outside like this, this is devastating, for real.”…