Empire Services Provides Emergency Demolition of the Huntingdon Electric Motor Service Building
The home of the electric apparatus manufacturer, Huntingdon Electric Motor Service, Inc., in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, was destroyed in a fire that broke out on May 12th. The fire quickly spread to the adjacent apartment building, displacing nearly 100 residents. The site of the Huntingdon Electric Motor Service Inc. and the adjacent apartment building previously housed the J.C. Blair Paper Company. The history of both buildings makes the loss even more devastating.
The original factory building was built in 1889 by John Chalmers Blair, who invented the paper tablet. It once held the claim of being the tallest building between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The company evolved to become ACCO Brand and the plant moved to Alexandria in 1965. In 1969, Huntingdon Electric Motor Service, Inc. moved into the building adjacent to the original factory.
After the fire was assessed, Empire Services, of Reading, Pennsylvania, received a call from Pennsylvania-based Alexander Building Construction to provide emergency demolition services to the four-story building. They were contracted to start demolition immediately, and mobilization took place as soon as the necessary hauling permits were obtained and equipment was available. The emergency nature of the demolition revolved around the building’s location, since it was on a busy state highway. Due to falling debris and the instability of the structure, the highway was closed.
The equipment used in this delicate job included one of Empire’s 95’ UHD long reach excavators and a 125’ personnel lift as well as other various support equipment to move and stage materials for final removal. The Empire Services crew removed the front portion of the structure down to two levels, creating a safe environment for the public and any other future site activities.
The initial phase of the demolition consisted of removing the most unstable portions of the building adjacent to the state highway for possible re-opening of this busy road and to assist with any upcoming salvage efforts by the building owner. Once the recovery phases have been completed, the balance of the damaged building will be removed in its entirety, allowing a full re-opening of surrounding streets.
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