Passing Into History
Constitution-Tribune, March 9 and 10, 2011

C-T Photos  / Drew Van Dyke and Catherine Stortz Ripley

The walls of an old deteriorating apartment building at the northeast corner of Elm and JFK streets started coming down Wednesday afternoon. St. Columban Catholic Church purchased the structure last year. After its demolition, the church will use the land to expand the playground of adjacent Bishop Hogan Memorial School. Red Rock, of Hamilton, is doing the demolition work.

Excerpted from Fr. Tom's Tomes August 8, 2010
We are still waiting to demolish the apartment building on the southwest corner of the block our school sets on. It appears AT&T has a junction box adjacent to the building which needs to be removed before the building can be torn down. If we would in some way disturb the wiring, we would become responsible to repair the wiring which might turn out to be a very expensive endeavor. I invite you to say a prayer so this issue can be resolved quickly so the building can be torn down.

Excerpted from Fr. Tom's Tomes July 18, 2010
The parish has been successful in purchasing the apartment house to the west of the early learning center building. The selling price of the apartment complex was $110,000. Of the $110,000 cost, the previous owner gave a gift of $95,000 to the parish. This meant the parish purchased the apartment complex for $15,000. We spent about $1,000 towards testing for asbestos and lead paint in the complex. Asbestos was discovered and it had to be removed. The cost of the removal was $1,800. At this time, we are awaiting a company to come and demolish the building. The plan for the piece of property is to haul in some dirt and to seed the ground. The removal of the apartment complex will provide a safer playing environment for the children of the school, parish, CCD program, and the neighborhood. I think it is necessary for the parish to be a good neighbor to all those who live around us.

Excerpted from Fr. Tom's Tomes May 16, 2010
In consultation with the school board, parish council, and finance committee, I am looking into purchasing the building on the corner of Elm and JFK. This is the apartment house west of old Academy building. Over the last five years, this building has continued to deteriorate. I have been through this building and it needs to be demolished. There has been a lot of difficulty for the school with drug activity and safety issues. At this time, I am in the process of looking into the possibility of this project. Our school children are important and their safety is a concern to all parents. You may be reading and hearing more about this proposal as the summer goes along.