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Century-Old Industrial Eyesore In Latrobe To Come Down

LATROBE (KDKA) – A nearly 100-year-old building is finally being torn down.

The building has been vacant for years with some calling it an eyesore.

The owners have been hesitant to tear down the historic building, but seem to have come to an agreement about helping to revitalize the area.

It's a major piece of Latrobe's history, where generations of workers made spring product for industry and railroads.

But the nearly century-old Lehigh Specialty Melting was shuttered when that work dried up and has deteriorated to the point of becoming an eyesore.

And it's with mixed emotions that towns people are now seeing it finally coming down.

"It's sad," said Sarah Johnston of Latrobe. "Lot of memories down there. Lot of family worked down there. My brother passed away down there, so I hate to see it go, but in other ways it's an improvement for the city."

Whemco, Lehigh's parent company, has begun marshalling backhoes and bulldozers, initiating the six to eight week process of dismantling the old plant and taking it down to the ground.

This comes as welcome relief to the city officials and the school district who are looking at possibly relocating the Latrobe Elementary School to the old athletic field across the street.

Mayor Rosie Wolford says efforts to repurpose the pants never materialized and says the razed lot will not only provide an open vista, but also open up the vacant land to new possibilities.

"The city doesn't own the property and that would be up to the owner, but I would like to see some development on the property," said Wolford.

People in Latrobe, while proud of their history, have come around to the reality that the plant must go. The focus now is on revitalization and looking ahead.

"Although I know there's been a lot of nostalgia for people who've been there," said Janet Smith of Latrobe. "There a lot of things that could be there that are nice and good for the future."

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