Sadly, more buildings promise to collapse and/or disappear in coming years...

...as the Gem theater continues to crumble...

...and the Elks recently vacated their building on 8th Street and moved into the former TIP building behind the post office.

Sigh.

And, it gets even more depressing.

Take a deep breath and brace yourself if you haven't been in downtown Cairo for a while.

If you turn your back on what 8th Street has become, you find yourself looking at the empty lots where the Security Bank, Bourland's Paint store (aka Fat Boys) et al used to be:

Then, if you let your eyes wander south to where Smith & Groves and the Famous Barr/Maytag Store et al once resided: