The downtown area of Martin is still blemished by an explosion caused by a UTM student that occurred nearly four years ago. Store owners in Martin say the devastated building at 212 Lindell St. is bad for businesses.

On Oct. 10, 2002, former UTM student Joseph Roberts was arrested after confessing to setting blaze to the building that then housed Universal Martial Arts. Roberts was reported to have filled the building with 15 2-liter soda bottles of gasoline, sprayed gasoline along the walls of the building and then poured gas across the room in a zig-zag fashion.

Roberts then set fire to the building causing an explosion that resulted in an estimate of more than $300,000. The fire was big enough that Martin fire department required the assistance of four other departments to fight the blaze.

At the time of the explosion, building owner David Harrison told The Pacer that he planned to rebuild. “My family has been here for 100 years and we’re going to stay,” Harrison told The Pacer in 2002.

However, four years later the building still remains in shambles with destroyed bricks, piles of debris and a melted “General Store” sign that reminds viewers of the blast. Four years is too long to have the building in such despair and as an eyesore for the community according to some.

“It doesn’t look like the city is well kept,” says Martin Historical Business District President Nan Rountree.

Rountree says that the businesses representing the businesses district are concerned. “All traffic coming in from the Fulton area certainly does not have a good impression on the downtown area,” Rountree said. “This has to impact whether businesses would choose to move to Martin.”

Martin Mayor Randy Brundige says that the city has encouraged Harrison to clean up the destroyed building but that the laws do not allow for the city to demand a clean up. Brundige also added that some progress had been made on cleaning up the building.

“The only thing that the city can do is condemn it (the building). There are no city laws on the book that allow us to demand that it be cleaned up,” Brundige said.

Brundige agreed that the destroyed building does not have a positive impact on attracting new businesses to Martin but would not say whether he would encourage the Board of Aldermen to take action in condemning the building.

“I can’t speak for the city council as to what they want to do,” Brundige said.

Martin alderman and interim Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, David Belote, said that the situation overall is rather unfortunate. “He (Harrison) owned that property and didn’t have insurance on the facility. It has been a mess to clean up and he (Harrison) did not have any insurance on the building,” Belote said.

Belote said that the Martin fire chief has spoken to Harrison about cleaning up the building and that he thinks the overall cleanup will be completed soon.

“I think there is progress being made and it is going to be cleaned up to satisfaction,” Belote said.

The Pacer contacted Harrison who seemed to have a different view.

When asked how long it would take him to clean up the building Harrison said, “… in the next 25 to 60 years. Things take time.”

Harrison also said that there are now no plans to rebuild.

Harrison was also asked what he would say to area business owners who are concerned that the damaged building is an eyesore and deterring future businesses coming to Martin. “No comment,” he said.