Community Center demo photographs

Image: The previous community center watched over by the Italy water tower.

The previous community center watched over by the Italy water tower. (Barry Byers)

Image: Demolition begins and bricks fall like tears.

Demolition begins and bricks fall like tears. (Barry Byers)

Image: View of community center demolition along Harpold Street.

View of community center demolition along Harpold Street. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy has a rich history and it is always sad to see a bit of it removed.

Italy has a rich history and it is always sad to see a bit of it removed. (Barry Byers)

Image: An excavator rips down walls from the second story.

An excavator rips down walls from the second story. (Barry Byers)

Image: The last wall section of the upper floor makes one last proud stand alongside the water tower.

The last wall section of the upper floor makes one last proud stand alongside the water tower. (Barry Byers)

Image: Main Street under construction.

Main Street under construction. (Barry Byers)

Image: Unable to stop the inevitable, the old community center building is pulled completely down into a pile of rubble.

Unable to stop the inevitable, the old community center building is pulled completely down into a pile of rubble. (Barry Byers)

Image: The old brick puts up a fight.

The old brick puts up a fight. (Barry Byers)

Image: Workers chip away at our town’s history.

Workers chip away at our town’s history. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bricks continue to tear drop to the ground.

Bricks continue to tear drop to the ground. (Barry Byers)

Image: Tour de Italia bike riders pass the demo site.

Tour de Italia bike riders pass the demo site. (Barry Byers)

Image: Still much to do to finish the demolition process.

Still much to do to finish the demolition process. (Barry Byers)

Image: A snorkel helps workers reach the top of the remaining wall.

A snorkel helps workers reach the top of the remaining wall. (Barry Byers)

Image: Damaged bricks roll out the door and on to the sidewalk.

Damaged bricks roll out the door and on to the sidewalk. (Barry Byers)

Image: Difficult to watch but the building was unsafe to use any longer.

Difficult to watch but the building was unsafe to use any longer. (Barry Byers)

Image: Saying goodbye to the past can be hard.

Saying goodbye to the past can be hard. (Barry Byers)

Image: As if it were a war zone, the old community center battled until the end as its remains are reflected in the windows of Italy City Hall across the Main Street.

As if it were a war zone, the old community center battled until the end as its remains are reflected in the windows of Italy City Hall across the Main Street. (Barry Byers)

Image: Getting there: Demo crews relentlessly strip away the building piece by piece and brick by brick and memory by memory.

Getting there: Demo crews relentlessly strip away the building piece by piece and brick by brick and memory by memory. (Barry Byers)

Image: Interior view of remaining structure.

Interior view of remaining structure. (Barry Byers)

Image: Still chipping away…

Still chipping away… (Barry Byers)

Image: More bricks crash to the ground…

More bricks crash to the ground… (Barry Byers)

Image: The building is gone but many of his will never forget the weddings held, the votes cast, the items for sale nor the musical entertainment the old community center provided locals for many years.

The building is gone but many of his will never forget the weddings held, the votes cast, the items for sale nor the musical entertainment the old community center provided locals for many years. (Barry Byers)

Image: Demolition nearly complete and the site left vacant until now.

Demolition nearly complete and the site left vacant until now. (Barry Byers)

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