Each year, the writers of The Daily Herald come up with our top five stories that have been covered locally in out paper. Over the next five issues, we will count them down from number five to number one.
At number five of the list for 2002 is the demolotion of the Jones Building and the building of the new Tyrone-Snyder Public Library.
It was a building that looked amazing on the outside, but had been condemned for years, the Jones Building was sold this past year to contractor Jeff Long. The Sinking Valley contractor proposed placing the new Tyrone-Snyder Public Library at the site on Pennsylvania Avenue and 10th Street.
The building didn’t come down without some problems.
A fire broke out when a torch that was being used caught part of the building on fire. A few days later, an employee of G&R Excavating who was doing the demolition was injured when part of the floor he was working on collapsed. A third collapse happened overnight in March, but there were no injuries.
Following the demolition, the shell of the building stood vacant all summer.
There were some road blocks in the way of the new library. One of them came from the building’s location in the flood plain.
At the June meeting of Tyrone Borough Council, Long was granted a variance to the flood plain ordinance.
The ordinance which has a stipulation that designated restructuring over $50,000 as new construction. The cost of the new library is estimated at $625,000. The variance passed with a 7-1 vote with Sarah Jane Miller voting against it.
In late November, the State Labor and Industry Board approved the Outside Elevation Plans for the new Tyrone-Snyder Public Library. After filling the lot with stone, the project moved forward. The outside is being built with Drivit, which Long compared to Stucco. The facade will be red split block, the windows will be encased in limestone and topped with a keystone symbol.
The Library board hopes to have the building under roof soon.
The new library will be between 7,200 and 7,300 square feet and will be handicapped accessable with room for expansion. There will be new computer labs and conference rooms available for public use.
When the building is under roof, there will be a $100,000 payment to Long. The floor plans will cost another $100,000.
To help fund the project, the library board is hosting a concert February 15 with the Marcells and Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners. Tickets for the show are $30 and the money goes to the Tyrone-Snyder Public Library building fund.
Bubbling under the top five
There were a lot of stories that just missed the top five local stories in The Daily Herald.
Ames closed the doors on its Grazierville store, then the entire company went out of business. The building has been sold, but no news on what will occupy the space has been announced.
Congressman Bill Shuster, Senator Robert Jubelirer and Rep. Jerry Stern all won easy victories in the November elections.
The rumors continue about what will happen at the former Westvaco site. As developments happen, The Daily Herald will let you know.
Benjamin and Erika Sifrit of Altoona were charged with two counts of murder in Ocean City, Md. Erika Sifrit was a former standout basketball player at Hollidaysburg High School.
Jennifer Bryan was named to fill the vacant seat on the Tyrone Borough Council. Bryan was selected by Council over William Fink.
Editor’s note: Sports Editor Bob Miller voted for The Daily Herald moving to its new location at 1067 Pennsylvania Avenue. While it was newsworthy to the staff, it wasn’t to the community. Daily Herald writer Kerry Webster contributed to this story.
