Organization Saves Homes Set For Demolition

By Nadia Crow, Reporter

Tools

By KCRG Intern

Story Created: Jul 8, 2012 at 6:32 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jul 9, 2012 at 9:20 AM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Before the demolition of a string of Cedar Rapids houses, the preservation group Save CR Heritage works to salvage pieces of the homes. Coe College will have homes on the 1400 block of C Avenue NE demolished this week and will use the land to expand its campus.

A quiet Sunday morning provided the perfect setting to salvage homes near Coe College in Cedar Rapids.

“These were extremely well-built homes, affordable homes, and the people who lived in them kept them up for the most part,” said Save Cedar Rapids Heritage President Beth DeBoom.

But soon these homes will join a long list of demolished buildings in the name of progress. It’s an unfortunate reality for preservation group, Save Cedar Rapids Heritage.

“Demolition is the last thing that we want to happen,” said DeBoom.

It’s yet another change for the volunteer and Cedar Rapids native Quniton McClain.

“Some for the better and some it’s sad to see some of the older buildings go,” said McClain.

So for the next couple of days, about a dozen volunteers will strip these homes of all useful parts.

“Trim, the doors, the hardware, the really quality material you can’t find anymore,” said DeBoom.

“A lot of things are difficult to remove. They haven’t been moved in a long time,” said McClain.

Like valuable coal chutes wedge in the foundation of these homes built in the 1930s. “It’s an interesting piece of history to preserve, so it’s nice that we can get those too,” said McClain.

For a group that strives to restore and preserve the past seeing these household goods being re-used provides a silver lining. Save Cedar Rapids Heritage is looking for volunteers to help them salvage those homes off the 1400 block of C Avenue NE. Bring your tools and dress to get dirty Monday night from six to nine.

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