Pocono News Section

Late-Night Pittston Demolition

Late-Night Pittston Demolition - Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 11:15PM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Tuesday, Dec 8, 2009 @ 11:15pm EST

PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY- An entire block of buildings is being cleared in downtown Pittston. Work continued well into early Wednesday morning. Crews demolishing the old building that was most recently home to Dave's Billiards worked through the early parts of a fast-moving winter storm. William Street at the intersection of North Main was closed to traffic. PennDOT expected the street to be closed down at least through midnight Tuesday.

The buildings of the former Saint John the Baptist parish are also being cleared in a separate demolition project. Work began yesterday. A rectory has already been razed, as well as the immediate front exterior of the 107-year-old parish church. The church, identified by its single tall brick steeple and tower, served the city's Slovak community for more than 110 years before it was shuttered in June, 2008. The church and surrounding buildings will be brought down to clear the way for expanded parking facilities. The project should be completed by March, according to the church.