1.2 million square foot complex presents mammoth task.
It’s the beginning of the end for a Two Rivers landmark. After 130 years the massive Hamilton complex is coming down.
“This complex was the industrial heartbeat of this community for 130 years,” recalls Two Rivers City Manager Greg Buckley.
Founded in 1880, the Hamilton Company quickly became one of the world’s largest suppliers of wood type. Storage systems, children’s furniture and laboratory work stations would follow and by the 1940’s more than 3,000 people worked at Hamilton. That number fell to 550 workers in 2011, the same year current owner Thermo Fisher closed the plant.
“That said and that damage having been done, we’re very pleased that Thermo Fisher has lived up to it’s word as far as not leaving an industrial relic here in the midst of our community,” says Buckley.
Demolition of the Hamilton site is an enormous task, involving 1.2 million square feet of buildings spread over 12 acres.
Demolition is expected to take a year and a web camera is capturing every moment.
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