Demolition of the former Anson Community Hospital building on Morven Road in Wadesboro began last week.
The demolition of the 1950s-era building was scheduled to begin Sept. 14, but started almost a week early, on Sept. 8, according to Caroline Lilly, a spokesperson for Carolinas HealthCare System.
By Friday, a gaping hole could be seen in the southern corner of the main building, and debris had been neatly piled in several spots. Demolition also began on the opposite end of the building, with bits of what used to be the emergency room entrance also missing.
“The demolition process for a building like this generally starts inside,” explained Tom Washington, senior service leader for Carolinas HealthCare System’s Facilities Management Group. “We have to remove hazardous materials first, then equipment, trash, wood, metal, etc., and keep them all separate for easier disposal.”
Washington added that the building will be brought down in sections.
Two 1910s-era brick buildings were demolished last month, also ahead of schedule. The buildings were constructed in 1913, and were commonly known as the “Anson Sanitorium.”
Although it was previously reported that the buildings would be demolished on Aug. 10, they were torn down a week earlier, on Aug. 3.
The buildings are being demolished and cleared at the expense of Carolinas HealthCareSystem. Although Anson County commissioners tried for months to find new purposes for the buildings, they had no choice but to approve the demolition last year.
The process is expected to be completed by mid-October, and at that point, the site will be re-seeded and returned to a grassy field, Washington said.
