Apr. 9, 1954: The demolition of the Wabash Building began in October, 1953. The Pittsburgh Press wrote, “With roof off, the workmen swarmed in and out of offices. Using crowbars and sledge hammers they pried and smashed.”
“The demise of the gaudy old relic” attracted many onlookers and workers in offices across the street congregated at windows to peer into the wreckage as the walls of the Wabash crumbled before their eyes. “Watching the giant ball thud into the side of a building can be as much fun as watching a boy break windows that belong to somebody else,” read the article in The Pittsburgh Press.
One of the wreckers interviewed for the article said, “It’s a nasty old building, and the pigeons didn’t help it any. But she was sure built well.” Then he added, “Everybody that ever worked in the Wabash must have chewed tobacco. I never saw so many spittoons in my life.”
(Photo credit: Unknown)
