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Razing Conjures Memories

Photo by Shelley Hanson Employees with Columbia Gas, from left, Ean Rizor, Jim LaRoche and Orville Smith work to cut natural gas lines near the Fourth Street demolition site in Martins Ferry.

Paul Stecker remembers playing as a child inside his family’s department store on Fourth Street — one of the many buildings that are now being razed due to a massive fire that struck in October.

Stecker, who works as the city’s law director, on Friday said his private law office building will be razed along with two other buildings his family owns — the former Primo’s restaurant and a life insurance office on Hanover Street.

“It is sad to see it go. Those buildings have been in my family for a long time. It started as Stecker’s Department store way back in the day,” he said, noting the store was situated where his law office and Subway are now.

Stecker said his parents, Paul and Pam Stecker, ran the department store.

“I went there every day after school. It was cool then to be working there, to have an office there in the same location,” he said.

Demolition on the burned buildings began Wednesday by Edgco Inc. In addition to Stecker’s buildings, several others burned during the Oct. 9 fire including a bar, the former Martins Ferry Flower Shop and Winters’ True Value Hardware. The Subway restaurant is expected to reopen in the future, and Z’s Jewelry already reopened.

Workers with Columbia Gas on Friday were making the demolition of the burned-out buildings much safer. Gas workers Jim LaRoche, Ean Rizor and Orville Smith were busy digging into sections of Fourth Street to reach the natural gas lines. That section of the street was blocked from traffic while the work was underway.

“The gas that went over there is still live. We’re just cutting it off here at the main line. That way when they tear that down they don’t have to worry about any damage,” LaRoche said.

Martins Ferry City Service Director Chris Cleary noted Edgco is demolishing the buildings from the alleyway because it is easier.

“They’re going to work their way north toward Winters’,” Cleary said, adding the fronts of the buildings would then be pushed in toward the alley. “They’re working pretty quickly. I think it’s going pretty well.”

The cause of the fire has been ruled as “undetermined” by the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Stecker added he does not yet know how he will proceed after the demolition work is finished. His uncle Bill Tolbert Jr.’s law office was located on the second floor of his building as well. Stecker has been running his practice from his home since the fire.

“To be honest, it’s too early to determine. We would like to look at all our options to see what makes the most sense,” he said.

Stecker noted when he moved back to the area a few years ago, he had his law office completely remodeled.

“It’s really going to change how the downtown looks,” Stecker said of the blaze.

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