Collapsing House in Martins Ferry Razed
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MARTINS FERRY -- Tamya Morgan, 11, was sitting on her front porch step Tuesday morning when a brick struck her knee.
It turned out to be one of many that fell from a building that was collapsing beside her home in the 800 block of Broadway Street in Martins Ferry.
Morgan's mother, Terinee Lekanudos, and sister Corin Ellsworth, 18, still were inside sleeping.
"It sounded like the building just fell in," said Morgan, noting she suffered just a bruise. "I thought a semi truck was shaking the house."
Lekanudos said the house, which she rents from Ohio River Properties, often trembles when large trucks pass, but this was different.
"It felt like our house was collapsing. … It had us all shook up," she said.
The partial collapse of the city-owned building happened about 9 a.m. Mayor Robert Krajnyak said the city was in the process of hiring a contractor to raze the structure after he noticed recently the two-story brick building's roof was sagging.
"But we didn't get that chance," he added.
Lekanudos' house did receive some damage from the falling bricks. She noted her landlord was looking into why the electric was not working properly before they could move back in.
The brick building was formerly home of the Martins Ferry High School Boosters Club for nearly 10 years.
Booster member Fred Beck watched as the building was demolished Tuesday afternoon by Edgeco Inc. He and other booster members spent a lot of time there planning fundraisers and watch film with football coaches.
"I still had a key to this building," Beck noted.
He noted the boosters eventually moved out because the roof was leaking and they were tired of putting money into the building, even though it was owned by the city of Martins Ferry. But they got to use it rent-free, he said. The club now holds its meetings in the basement of the Rec Center.
Krajnyak said the city has owned the building since about 1910. It was used as the fire station for the Vigilant Fire Co. until 1952.
Krajnyak said the city's insurance company had already visited the scene and assessed the damage to the building and the neighboring house so the claim process could begin.
In addition to Krajnyak, also at the scene were Water Superintendent Bill Suto, Service Director Scott Porter and the Vigilant's fire engine was being used to block a portion of the road.
City Electrician Don Mew also used his own drone camera to give to city officials a better view of the building's top.
That section of Broadway Street will remain closed until the work is done, possible late today or early Thursday.