Legion demolition progressing smoothly, officials say

December 30, 2022 Last Updated: December 29, 2022 07:14 PM Local News

Young & Sons Excavating workers demolish the former American Legion on Bessemer Avenue in Lyndora on Thursday, Dec. 29. Justin Guido/ Butler Eagle

The demolition of a former American Legion building in Lyndora is running on schedule, and according to officials, it’s been a long time coming.

Dave Zarnick, president of the Butler Township Board of Commissioners, said the building at 100 Bessemer Ave. has been vacant since it was condemned in 2017.

“I’m the one who pushed to get it done. I hounded the county housing authority, the county commissioners, to get this accomplished,” he said of the demolition. “They’re probably tired of me, but it worked.”

When the Legion closed, it was converted into an apartment building. The two-story building of 38,000 square feet eventually developed a leaky roof and leaky pipes, Zarnick said.

He added that after the building’s condemnation and before its demolition, people tried to live on the property without paying rent.

“We had vagrants living in there, living without utilities, there’s no bathrooms in there, so they were using buckets,” he said.

At various points in time, the building also served as a store and a shoe repair shop, Zarnick said.

The demolition project was bid at $73,090 and is expected to take 30 days. According to Zarnick, it may be completed sooner than that.

“We didn’t really know how long it’d take. … The weather has been very favorable, and it doesn’t look it’ll be 30 days, though we allotted 30 days,” he said.

Demolition began Monday, and Zarnick said parking spots were blocked off prior to Christmas. Only a few cars are permitted to be parked around the street where the demolition is taking place.

“I went by (Wednesday), and they had over half of it down,” he said.

A small lot next to the former Legion building once was occupied by a house, according to Zarnick. There are no plans for future buildings on either lot at this time.

Lyndora has a newer American Legion, Post 778 at 150 Legion Memorial Lane, and is open for events and gatherings.

The former Lyndora American Legion, 100 Bessemer Ave., in Lyndora is now being torn down. Butler Eagle File Photo

Justin Guido

The former American Legion building in Lyndora is scheduled for demolition, and crews took part of the building down Monday. Eddie Trizzino/Butler Eagle

Gregory Young, with Young and Sons Excavating, operates an excavator while demolishing a building on Bessemer Avenue in Lyndora on Tuesday, Dec. 27. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle

Butler Township Commissioner Dave Zarnick visits the demolition of the former American Legion in Lyndora on Wednesday, Dec. 28. The building had a sordid past, which included a body in the basement. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle

Young and Sons Excavating works on demolition on Bessemer Street in Lyndora on Wednesday, Dec. 28. Cary Shaffer/butler Eagle 12/28/22

Young and Sons Excavating raze the former American Legion on Bessemer Street in Lyndora on Wednesday, Dec. 28. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle

Demolition continues on the site of the former American Legion in Lyndora on Bessemer Street on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle

Young & Sons Excavating workers demolish the former American Legion on Bessemer Avenue in Lyndora on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022. Justin Guido/Butler Eagle

Young & Sons Excavating workers demolish the former American Legion on Bessemer Avenue in Lyndora on Thursday, Dec. 29. Justin Guido/Butler Eagle

Young & Sons Excavating workers demolish the former American Legion on Bessemer Avenue in Lyndora on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022. Justin Guido/Butler Eagle