The iconic coal-burning plant with the “Giant” nickname on the city’s west end opened in 1927 and once provided power to as far away as Marysville, said Tim Suter, manager of external affairs for FirstEnergy.
But the 25,000-square-foot plant, which shut down in 1981, has deteriorated, with chunks falling off the exterior recently, he said.
“It’s sad because it’s a beautiful building ... But it’s time,” Suter said. “The plant is beyond its life.”
The demolition is part of a company-wide effort. It also razed the Rockaway Plant on Buck Creek in 2008.
“Our CEO and board are looking to clean up some of the old environmental concerns,” Suter said.
For more than two months crews have been performing environmental cleanups, working through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Voluntary Action Program.
The total project cost to FirstEnergy will be $3 million to $4 million and likely take until August to complete, with the 275-foot tower the last piece to come down.
FirstEnergy will maintain a substation and back-up generators at the 45-acre site.
The Springfield Preservation Alliance named the plant one of its preservation priorities last month and suggested reusing it.
The building would be difficult to adapt for another use, Suter said, because the structure was built around massive boilers and turbine-generators.
“There’s no way to get those out of there unless you tear the building down,” he said.
Architect William K. Shilling designed it, as well as the downtown post office.
The alliance toured the building on Friday, June 11, taking photographs for archival purposes.
“We’re sad to lose this landmark but appreciate Ohio Edison’s reaching out to us to assist in documenting the structure,” alliance President Charles Swaney said.
Any artifacts or architectural elements the group finds Suter said he would look into donating and keeping in town.
Much larger plants with newer technology made the Mad River Plant obsolete.
“The plants today can burn a barge of coal an hour whereas this one is much smaller,” Suter said.
About the Author