Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Thompson Building: 1861-2009


















6 comments :

Kristin Perkins Glass Jewelry said...

Wow! They've made major progress since I was down there at 4:00 p.m.! All of the scaffolding...much more of it than when I was there. What are they doing now...do you know? Are they trying to secure the facade for restoration? Or just keeping it from falling? Did you speak with anyone? Thanks for the photos.

Dusty D said...

We spoke with several folks there, one a former tenant. My shirt still smells like char.

It's gone. I can't imagine restoring it. It's one winter away from total collapse---lots of cracks everywhere as you doubtless saw; the SW corner is a few days from crumbling off entirely and now the whole interior is exposed to the elements.

The wall is 2 bricks thick. I can't see any way that this fragile facade, with the mortar now seriously heat-damaged and unsupported by anything, can stand much longer.

Lynne said...

thanks for the photos. I am really hoping that the facade can be saved although I know that probably isnt the case.

Kristin Perkins Glass Jewelry said...

What about the sections to the left? They look pretty intact and unharmed.

Gosh my kids are so sad also. They have both walked along the upper sidewalk while I walked on the one that sloped down...they laugh as they got taller than me with each step...they've both done this since they could walk. When we were down there they both asked - "can they save the sidewalk?"

Dusty D said...

Lynne: Stewart Beal said in one newspaper story that he wants to save the facade, but...wow, even to my untrained eye it looks hopeless.

Dusty D said...

K: Yes, the sections on the left side do look less damaged, that's true. But all that beautiful wood flooring and beams and the wonderful freight elevator....gone.

The people there tonight were at a wake, for a building they loved.