JENKINS TOWNSHIP -- A Monday morning demolition spelled the end of two eyesores at an industrial plant in Luzerne County.
The silos came down right on schedule at 9:00 a.m. because the industrial park, Interstate Distribution Center near Laflin, is in the flight of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, and the FAA allowed a very small window for the implosion.
A representative for the Department of Environmental Protection said around 400 pounds of explosives were needed for the operation.
"Years ago they didn't implode buildings, they just tore them down. This is money saving, time saving, things of that nature," said Tom Flannery, with DEP.
The silos were used for raw material for Techneglas, a company that made the glass screens for televisions. Techneglas closed the Luzerne County facility back in 2004.
"There's feelings there. I spent most of my life there working. It's hard to see it go, but life goes on," said Richard Burda of Swoyersville.
Burda worked at the factory even before it officially opened in 1968. He was there when they stopped making the glass in 2004 and he said watching it all happen was bittersweet.
"It hurts because it was a good place to work for a long time. It was a place in history. This company had a large effect on the economy and the area and at one time we had 1800 employees here," said Burda, of Swoyersville.
Some neighbors were worried that the vibrations from the blast might damage their foundations, but the implosion was actually pretty quiet and the ground did not even shake.
"Very quietly I think considering all the commotion that was coming down," said Jim Feehan of Jenkins Township.
Neighbors say with the two silos gone now, it's a whole new view.
"I told the person that sold my house to me, 'I don`t have to plant as many trees now because I don`t have to look at those towers.' It will be nice. It will be really nice for a change," Feehan said.
Representatives with the property owners said the next step will be to demolish the remaining building.