photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The Wishing Bench at Ninth and Delaware streets in East Lawrence, pictured Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, is making a quick comeback just a day after Sunday's devastating fire.

The spirit of East Lawrence’s “Wishing Bench” is undaunted after an early-morning fire Sunday consumed the beloved art installation at Ninth and Delaware streets.

By Monday afternoon, the shrine-like structure was looking more like its old self as well-wishers festooned it with signs, flowers, drawings, socks and other decorations. Someone even left a large office chair on the charred platform, presumably as a makeshift seat for new wishes.

The installation has been at the corner in the Warehouse Arts District for more than a decade and was recently the subject of a short film. The site featured a “wishing” bench on a platform surrounded by whimsical items left by passersby. Its appearance changed frequently with the community additions.

Tom Fagan, division chief with Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical, said the fire department responded to the fire at 3:31 a.m. Sunday.

“The bench and shelter were fully involved in the fire upon the arrival of firefighters,” he said. “The fire was extinguished, but the structure sustained heavy damage.”

He said the fire was still under investigation.

KT Walsh, the vice president of the East Lawrence Neighborhood Association, told the Journal-World on Sunday that the Wishing Bench would be restored at its current site. She said that by Sunday afternoon people had already dropped off a number of items, restoring some vibrancy and quirkiness to the skeletal ruin. And by Monday, those offerings had multiplied.

“People are showing up because they care about it,” she said.