Uniquely is a Modesto Bee series that covers the moments, landmarks and personalities that define what makes living in the Central Valley so special.
Franklin & Downs stood ready for decades to aid grieving families at its downtown Modesto funeral home.
Now the place is itself being mourned, following a July 16 fire that severely damaged the 1895 structure at 12th and G streets.
It had not been used since 2016 and was prone to trespassers in recent years. Meanwhile, Franklin & Downs has continued to operate on McHenry Avenue in Modesto and Fifth Street in Ceres.
The charred ruins still stand behind temporary fencing while the Modesto Fire Department determines the cause. People walking by might sense some of the past grandeur amid the faint scent of smoke.
“Remember what it used to be,” said Matt Innes, part of the third generation at the funeral business. “Remember what it was to people. That’s all you can do. The building is gone.”
The Modesto Bee met with Innes at the site a week after the fire. He suspects it might have been set by an unidentified trespasser, but he is awaiting MFD’s findings.