By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
The sounds of crumbling bricks, breaking glass, and snapping floorboards echoed across the west end of Bucyrus Tuesday afternoon. Amid billowing clouds of dust and debris, the remains of Ronald Worchester’s property at 209 West Mansfield Street could be seen piled on the ground.
Worchester, who owns Indian Valley Properties, had been notified on April 7 that his property was condemned by the City of Bucyrus and he needed to demolish it within 60 days. At the time, the Bucyrus Fire Department noted that the walls of the three-story structure were beginning to buckle, the roof was falling in, and the city had received reports that popping and cracking could be heard from the building.
Worchester appealed the time frame with the Bucyrus City Board of Building Standards and Appeals at a meeting earlier this month. Due to the fact that Worchester had not filed a timeline, a demolition plan, or a proposed completion date, the board tabled the discussion until the property owner could do so.
The demolition of the property on Tuesday kept Worchester within his 60-day notice to demolish.
Marilyn Smith has lived across from 209 West Mansfield Street for 20 years and is glad the structure will be finally gone from the street.
“It’s good because it was in danger of collapsing,” Smith said as she rocked on her porch swing and glanced at the work ongoing across the street. “Especially with the people walking up and down the streets for the festivals. People park down here and walk on down.”
Smith said it was a shame that the landowner let the building deteriorate the way it did. She noted that at one time the homes along West Mansfield Street were the elite houses of Bucyrus. Now, many of them are in need of an excavator.
“It’s a shame that they let it go to the point where this had to happen. It’s good it’s coming down,” Smith said. “I’m sorry to see them go but if they’re not kept up what are you going to do?”
Smith felt that something would be happening soon at the property due to the fact that new caution tape was strung across the sawhorses. She had been working in her flower beds when she heard crashing from nearby. Smith then grabbed her camera and strolled along the street to take pictures of the changes that were coming to her neighborhood.