Contractors from Jay-Mor Company of Pelham, New Hampshire, razed the former Southwick Department of Public Works building located in the rear of the Southwick Police Department last Monday. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – The Department of Public Works’ former headquarters has been leveled.
The dilapidated building has been vacant for more than two years and finally came down last week.
Jay-Mor Company of New Hampshire offered the winning bid of $14,400 for the work.
Southwick Building and Grounds Director John Westcott said there were “no surprises” with the demolition, which took one day.
“It went as expected,” he said. “Prior to them coming in we had to disconnect the power from the building, as well as the water and sewer.”
A flat snow-covered section of pavement, foreground, where the former Southwick Department of Public Works was razed last week. The building was removed by a New Hampshire company. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
The building was an eyesore, Wescott said. Located behind the police station and in front of the animal control facility, the garage was falling apart.
“Everything there is so beautiful now, and then we had that garage,” Westcott said. “Now once the salt and sand sheds are built at the DPW garage (on College Highway) we will get those down, too.”
Exhaust fans and light fixtures were removed from the building before demolition, but there was nothing else left that was salvageable.
“There was really nothing to salvage in that building,” said Westcott.
The future of the land is still in question.
“A lot of people have a lot of ideas, but there is no plan yet,” Westcott said.
The former garage was built, Westcott guessed, sometime in the 1940s.
