Consensus: Higgins building cannot be saved

It's a bad 1870s vintage building in a bad spot and there's nothing easy about trying to save it.

That's the consensus of an engineer for an insurance company representing owner Richelle Lietz of Dubois.

A second independent engineer hired by the City of Du Quoin was not available for comment as a late afternoon meeting went from Main Street in front of the building to city hall.

The substance of those discussions is not known.

The assessment of city administrator Brad Myers, Fire Chief Bob Shaw and city engineer Doug Bishop is that the west wall is completely down, having fallen into the storefront. The front wall is being called "dangerous." That leaves two walls left of a relatively small building.

Main Street remained closed Thursday and again today as the city sought advice as to whether any part of Main Street in front of the building can be reopened. Despite police cars and helmeted personnel. an occasional passerby still tried to walk in front of the fragile building.

The wall collapse happened sometime Tuesday and was first spotted by passersby.