Her father was one of several of her family members who worked at the site for many years, she said.
“My whole family retired from here,” Lethco said.
The building was erected in 1882 to serve as the administrative offices for the Warder, Bushnell & Glessner Co., which joined with four other companies to form International Harvester in 1902.
An attempt by the Turner Foundation to save the building failed, but efforts by the city of Springfield and the Ohio Historic Preservation Office ensured that parts of the structure — the vault door, safe and 1882 date stone — would be preserved.
“We all think it’s too bad that (the structure) couldn’t be salvaged and put to some use,” said Gail Meyer, who used to work in the building as a payroll manager. Meyer stood with a group of former employees who came to the site Monday to record a piece of history and say goodbye.
“We had our labor relations meetings there ... a lot of emotional stuff there,” said Bill MacGregor, who spent 30 years of his career in the building.
“My first job was in duplicating in 1960,” MacGregor said. “It was home away from home.”
Crews started taking down structures on the site in August, with the last two demolished on Monday, said Joe Vendetti, vice president of Grant Mackay Demolition Co.
An estimated 14,000 tons of brick and 78,000 tons of concrete will have been reduced to rubble by the end of the project, Vendetti said.
“We made a lot of friendships there,” said Norma Meyer, once a secretary in the building.
Lethco revealed yet another sentimental attachment to the old building — her childhood home was across the street and her father worked on the loading docks. “All the guys used to come over to the house and get vegetables out of our garden,” she said.
As more bricks crashed down and the walls were reduced to rubble, Lethco broke into tears.
“I wish my dad were here to see it.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0360 or vlough@coxohio.com.
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