Koehler Demolition Today
sent February 9, 2006
In the past, whenever something was torn down, we traded up - something architecturally better replaced the previous structure. In the sixties, we started trading down. Many in Erie remember with sorrow the loss of the
Reed Mansion (built in 1868 on 6th St.) and it's replacement in 1970 with an uninspiring Triple A building. Compare the two fire stations on Twelfth Street. The new one looks disposable, the other was built by "our" great-grandparents, with pride, for the future.
This morning the 155 foot Koehler smokestack will be blown up. The explosion will be followed, over the next few weeks, by the demolition of the entire complex at 21st and State Streets. Built at the same time as the Reed Mansion, Koehler has been a highly visible downtown landmark for a century and half. Koehler's listing on the National Register of Historic Places was no protection. Like the Reed mansion, preservation efforts did not succeed. While it will be wonderful to have an active business at this site, what chance is there that the new complex will be honored with national register designation? These days we rarely build structures with our grandchildren in mind.
Decades ago, when Koehler was sold, the new owners brutally tore into the historic masonry, extracted valuable brewing equipment, and abandoned the buildings. Snow and rain assaulted the interior and we, the citizens of Greater Erie, did not intervene. This neglect can be attributed, in part, to a general unawareness that our industrial buildings are impressive architectural structures, worthy of our attention. The entire Twelfth Street corridor, for example, is generally derided as an eyesore, yet, these buildings create a powerful sense of place.
In 2004, several notable speakers gathered here to discuss "The Role of Historic Industrial Architecture in Erie." Youngstown State University Professor Tom Leary, who has studied Erie extensively, outlined the international importance of our massive structures. A National Trust officer, Adrian Fine offered examples of redevelopment strategies. This year, architectural historian William Lebovich will travel from Washington DC to photograph buildings on Twelfth Street. Members of the International Society of Industrial Archeology will visit Erie in September to tour the city's built environment. While outsiders appreciate Erie's industrial history, we residents seem ready to forsake the very thing which offers so much hope for our future - innovative reuse of historic structures.
Visible on one of the Koehler building's huge south walls, a rare, hand-painted sign still advertises "Koehler Beer, Known for the Collar it Keeps." May our new mayor, and all who gather to witness today's destruction vow to make the city of Erie "known for the buildings it keeps."
Sincerely,
CIVITAS
Reed Mansion (built in 1868 on 6th St.) and it's replacement in 1970 with an uninspiring Triple A building. Compare the two fire stations on Twelfth Street. The new one looks disposable, the other was built by "our" great-grandparents, with pride, for the future.
This morning the 155 foot Koehler smokestack will be blown up. The explosion will be followed, over the next few weeks, by the demolition of the entire complex at 21st and State Streets. Built at the same time as the Reed Mansion, Koehler has been a highly visible downtown landmark for a century and half. Koehler's listing on the National Register of Historic Places was no protection. Like the Reed mansion, preservation efforts did not succeed. While it will be wonderful to have an active business at this site, what chance is there that the new complex will be honored with national register designation? These days we rarely build structures with our grandchildren in mind.
Decades ago, when Koehler was sold, the new owners brutally tore into the historic masonry, extracted valuable brewing equipment, and abandoned the buildings. Snow and rain assaulted the interior and we, the citizens of Greater Erie, did not intervene. This neglect can be attributed, in part, to a general unawareness that our industrial buildings are impressive architectural structures, worthy of our attention. The entire Twelfth Street corridor, for example, is generally derided as an eyesore, yet, these buildings create a powerful sense of place.
In 2004, several notable speakers gathered here to discuss "The Role of Historic Industrial Architecture in Erie." Youngstown State University Professor Tom Leary, who has studied Erie extensively, outlined the international importance of our massive structures. A National Trust officer, Adrian Fine offered examples of redevelopment strategies. This year, architectural historian William Lebovich will travel from Washington DC to photograph buildings on Twelfth Street. Members of the International Society of Industrial Archeology will visit Erie in September to tour the city's built environment. While outsiders appreciate Erie's industrial history, we residents seem ready to forsake the very thing which offers so much hope for our future - innovative reuse of historic structures.
Visible on one of the Koehler building's huge south walls, a rare, hand-painted sign still advertises "Koehler Beer, Known for the Collar it Keeps." May our new mayor, and all who gather to witness today's destruction vow to make the city of Erie "known for the buildings it keeps."
Sincerely,
CIVITAS
