In a late-night turn of events, art gallery owner Al Stewart received alarming news from a neighbor—his Wortley Village gallery was in jeopardy as a fire blazed in the adjacent building. Rushing to the scene around 1 a.m. on November 28, Stewart was met with the sight of firefighters vigorously battling the flames threatening his property at 156 Wortley Rd.

Upon arrival, he noticed two tenants from the upper-floor apartments of the neighboring establishment at 158 Wortley Rd. However, Douglas Henderson, a long-standing tenant, was nowhere to be seen. After firefighters conducted a search in the burning building for him but found nothing, Henderson surprisingly appeared just 15 minutes later, claiming to have been out for a walk. He joined Stewart and neighbors in watching the fire's destruction and soon received support from the Red Cross, which provided him shelter.

The fire was deemed suspicious by investigators, leading to Henderson's arrest the following day. At 75 years old, he now faces serious charges, including arson causing damage to property and arson with disregard for human life. As the situation develops, Henderson is remanded in custody pending court appearances.

Henderson has been a well-known figure in the Old South community for approximately a decade, often seen collecting recyclables with a wagon. Residents occasionally set aside their liquor containers for him, earning him a reputation as a quiet, friendly presence amid the neighborhood. However, the gravity of the fire incident has cast a cloud over his local standing.

The destructive blaze inflicted an estimated $2 million in damages, impacting the building that hosts two businesses on the ground floor and three apartments on the upper level. Notably, the businesses, Sha Choix—a women’s boutique—and A Village Tail—a pet supply store—have been forced to close, with no clear timeline for reopening.

Expressing gratitude, A Village Tail took to social media to thank the community for their support and praised the firefighters' efforts. They shared that the damage mainly appeared to be due to water, as the business is directly below the apartment where the fire started. "We’re incredibly thankful to the firefighters who acted quickly to prevent further damage," they wrote.

The fire's occurrence was particularly poignant, as it followed shortly after excavation work began at the Black Walnut site—another local business site that had previously been destroyed by arson 19 months prior. That incident in April 2023 led to a conviction with severe penalties for the perpetrator.

While the flames engulfed the neighboring property, Stewart managed to preserve his gallery’s integrity, grandly noting, "Thank God, we dodged a bullet." Reflecting on the heroics of the firefighting team, he recounted the striking image of 12 firefighters on his roof, resolute in their mission to protect his building. "They were amazing," he praised.

Highlighting his long-term relationship with Henderson, Stewart remarked on their previous amicable interactions, emphasizing that Henderson had even worked for him during the summers. "He was a loner who kept to himself," Stewart observed, adding a note of disbelief that someone he considered a friend could be linked to such a catastrophic event.

This incident continues to unfold, and the community remains on edge as investigations proceed. The residents and businesses in Wortley Village are hoping for a swift resolution, while many are left to wonder about the future of their beloved neighborhood.