North Little Rock, Arkansas – A piece of Arkansas history has been lost as the St. Joseph Center of Arkansas, a landmark that has stood for more than a century, was destroyed by fire on Wednesday. The flames, fueled by strong winds, tore through the historic building, leaving behind little but rubble and heartbreak for the community that worked so hard to preserve it.
The St. Joseph Center, located on Camp Robinson Road, was built in 1910 and has served various roles over the decades, including an orphanage, school, daycare, nursing home, and more. It was officially recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as an Arkansas Department of Agriculture Century Farm, highlighting its importance to the state’s history.
A Legacy of Preservation and Heartbreak
The nonprofit St. Joseph Center took over the property in 2010, rescuing it from being sold and dedicating itself to preserving the building’s history through a combination of agriculture, art, and community events, the nonprofit raised funds to maintain the 56,000-square-foot structure and its 63-acre property.
That mission came to a devastating halt when flames engulfed the building. Sandy DeCoursey, the executive director of the nonprofit, arrived just an hour after the fire consumed the center.
“I don’t know what can be salvaged,” she said, still processing the overwhelming loss.
Volunteer Stephanie Cole, who has been with the center for seven years, described the destruction as “heartbreaking”, recalling the moment she watched the roof collapse.
“I think the wind just made it nearly impossible,” she said. “It’s going to take a lot of work to get this back together.”
Despite the devastation, those dedicated to St. Joseph Center’s mission remain hopeful.
“We hope that the building is repairable and we’re going to work as hard as we can to continue on with our mission,” Cole said.
A Cruel Twist of Fate
The timing of the fire only made the loss more painful. In 2023, a microburst storm had already damaged the center’s roof and windows, leading to costly repairs.
Incredibly, just one day before the fire, the nonprofit had finally completed repairs on the roof—and on the morning of the fire, DeCoursey received the final payment check for those repairs.
“It’s just surreal to think oh my goodness we’re starting over,” she said.
Cole echoed that sentiment. “To have this happen right after that is just really tragic.”
A Community Determined to Rebuild
Though the flames have taken much, the spirit of St. Joseph Center remains.
“I have every faith that we will continue to move forward,” DeCoursey said.
She remains optimistic, believing that even in devastation, there is a greater purpose at work.
“There is a plan here. I truly believe that we’ll be shown the path. We’ve followed it for 15 years and I think we can keep going.”
The North Little Rock Fire Department reported six separate fires on Wednesday, but St. Joseph Center was the only structure fire. Officials continue to investigate the cause.
How to Help
For those who wish to support efforts to restore and rebuild the St. Joseph Center of Arkansas, donations can be made to the nonprofit. Every contribution will help bring new life to this historic and cherished landmark.
