Many towns in West Virginia hold on to their architectural histories – no matter the state of repair.
Monday night in Monongah, Marion County, told that tale when gusting winds caused the partial collapse of a building constructed in 1909.
That was two years after the town’s horrific mine disaster, which killed as many as 500. Several of those victims were said to be children and teenagers, who were underground, underage and off the books.
Winds blew down the back side of the building around 9 p.m., causing its roof to collapse, Mayor John Palmer said.
“It had been condemned for years,” the mayor said.
“Fortunately, no one was hurt. That’s the important thing.”
The building’s current owners, Palmer said, had long been considering what to do with the blighted structure, since it shared a common wall with another building that remains sound and wasn’t damaged in Monday’s collapse.
Meanwhile, work crews were still at the scene Tuesday afternoon, finishing the demolition.
The building is on Bridge Street, just down from town hall and next to the Monongah memorial statue, which was put up in honor of the miners who perished in 1907.
There was already the shadow of Monongah at its address, the mayor said.
It was actually the second building there now ruined, he said.
The first was constructed a year after the mine disaster, and burned down in a fire that roiled through downtown months later.
“You have to think what that was like,” Palmer said.
“People still hadn’t gotten over the mine disaster, and then Bridge Street burns down.”
All things considered, he said, his town was lucky Monday night.
Lashing winds downed trees, but, as he said, no injuries or major property damage was reported.
In the meantime, March is expected to come in today like a lamb with an exhaust fan.
Forecasters with AccuWeather and the National Weather Service are predicting sunny skies and highs in the 70s today, but the winds could still gust as high as 30 mph.
Wednesday evening also carries a chance of rain, which could be heavy at times.
Look for sun and a high in the 60s Thursday.
Friday will be cooler in the 50s with rain. Temperatures will settle back into the 40s for the weekend.
TWEET @DominionPostWV
