A last vestige of Arnold's industrial heritage — the 18-story smokestack off Drey Street — toppled Thursday in a controlled demolition while onlookers talked more about new beginnings than days gone by.

"It was an eyesore," Gary Grzybek, 55, a lifelong resident, said moments after the stack fell. "It's time to redevelop the property by getting new industries in there."

Grzybek was among dozens of spectators who gathered at Drey Street and Fifth Avenue to watch the spectacle while police and firefighters stopped traffic.

Among the group were Nicki Fabian and her 2-year-old daughter, Marieona. Fabian said she wanted her daughter, who sat on City Hall's steps wrapped in a blanket, to see the demolition.

Fabian also said she wanted to see what could be considered the end of an era.

"From what I've heard, it had a lot to do with the city's (heritage)," she said.

The crowd dispersed minutes after the stack went down — in about the time it took for the dust and debris to clear with the help of a steady wind.

"Hopefully, this does create more development," Councilman James Duncan said as he watched from City Hall's steps. "It would be nice to see some light industry on the property."

The brick-and-mortar stack — used by the former American-St. Gobain Glass Co. — stood near the corner of Drey Street and Fourth Avenue.

Dan Wright, co-owner of Keystone Rustproofing along nearby Dr. Thomas Boulevard, said his company recently bought the property — about 16 acres — and is in the process of clearing the land.

The project also involves razing three buildings.

Asked if he's planning a large-scale development for the property, Wright said, "It's undecided at this time.

"Right now, we're just trying to clean up the property and make it usable."

According to a Westmoreland County deed transaction, Keystone paid Burrell Industries $1 million for the land.

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Down in smoke

Blasting contractor John Koehler said about 14 pounds of dynamite were used to knock over the American-St. Gobain smokestack.

'We were very happy with the way it went,' he said.

Koehler, with Knoxville, Tenn.-based Winchester Blasting Services, said precautions were taken to protect a handful of homes, businesses and utility lines near the site.

Chelsea Ritenour Jr., of primary contractor Ritenour & Sons of Connellsville, said the stack stood 180 feet tall. It was 20 feet wide at the top and 32 feet wide at the base.

The blast went off at 11:32 a.m. It took about 10 seconds for the stack to fall.

City officials said they could offer little detail about the age of the stack, other than to say it stood for at least 50 years.

Police Chief Joe Doutt said the stack was used as part of the process of making 'gray glass' for television picture tubes.

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