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CHAMPION -- The former 1840s Harper Farm House, which later was used as a business office by Copperweld Steel, was demolished Tuesday.
Work crews began early Tuesday to take down the house located off state Route 45, south of state Route 82. The house could be seen by many getting onto or off the Route 82 ramp at Route 45.
Most of the structure is down, but part of the front of the house is standing.
Champion resident and historical society member Cindee Mines, who worked with the Howland Historical Society last year to get the historic Yellow House off state Route 46 to a new location by Howland Middle School, said she was saddened to see the Champion structure torn down.
Mines said she would have liked to see the house relocated but was not able to do so. She said the house originally was built in the 1840s and was one of the oldest in the area.
"At one time, the house was used as the world headquarters for Copperweld," she said.
She said the house is on the former Copperweld Steel property, which later became Warren Steel Holdings. Mines said she toured the home six years ago and again two weeks ago.
She said she felt the house was in good condition.
"The condition of the house had not changed in the six years between me seeing the interior, which is totally amazing considering how long it has been empty," Mines said.
She said she was joined by two experts in the field of historic architecture on her visit a few weeks ago.
"This structure may be the only one of its kind that represents the history of this area," Mines said.
She said she took several photos of the house, including the porch details and window trim, which are nearly 175 years old.
The home was on a farm from the mid 1800s and was part of the Connecticut Western Reserve. Mines said the house was located on the main road to Lake Erie during the height of the Underground Railroad.
She said in the 1920s, the property became part of the industrial move to steel. During the years of World War II, a heavily reinforced concrete addition was built onto the back of the house as a storage space for important company drawings and documents.
Mines said this suggests that the work done at the building was very important to the war effort.
TRUSTEES COMMENTS
Township trustees at their Tuesday meeting commented on the demolition work.
Trustee Doug Emerine said none of the trustees were contacted by any Copperweld officials about the house or it being donated to the township.
"We had nothing to do with the demolition or any involvement. We did not order the building to be taken down," Emerine said.
Officials said they believe the house was taken down as part of the remediation of the Copperweld property. Emerine said there was a sizable bankruptcy for the company, so any assets from the property can't just be donated or sold.
Trustee Chairman Bill Templeton said some residents wanted the trustees to do something about the structure, but trustees had no control over what was being done.
He said when he drove by the demolition Tuesday, he did not see anything from inside the building being brought out, such as the staircase.
"I know seeing the house taken down will upset some people, while others will be pleased to have it gone and the property cleaned up," Emerine said.