Landmark building razed; makes room for parking lot

    A landmark building that stood in the main business district of Caribou for nearly 70 years came tumbling down in just two days.

Aroostook Republican photo/Debra Walsh
    And the walls came tumbling down as an excavator knocks down the Corey Building last week that housed the popular J.C. Penney department store for decades on Sweden Street. Jason Landeen of Soderberg Construction, which conducted the demolition, watches.

   The Corey Building, which housed the J.C. Penney store, was demolished last week by Soderberg Construction Co.  Before any crowds could gather, a large excavator started tearing into the back part of the landmark building before 7 a.m. on Wednesday. The work continued until the building was completely flattened by noon on Thursday.
    The building, which was owned by the Corey family, was sold to the U.S. Postal Service housed next door. USPS officials plan to install a parking lot to better serve its customers and its fleet of mail delivery trucks.
    The demolition occurred a bit later than scheduled because of extra asbestos found in the building that required removal, according to Ray Bolduc, the project’s manager with WBRC Architects in Bangor.
    Part of the building’s foundation will be used as a retaining wall along Grange and Hershel streets, according to Bolduc. Tiers will be added to provide added strength, he said.
    After the debris is removed, work on the parking lot will begin, with the anticipated completion by late fall, according to the engineer.
    The Caribou Chamber of Commerce and Industry plans to use as many of the building’s bricks as possible to raise money for a scholarship fund.  According to the chamber’s Web site, each brick will be hand painted with “Corey Building 1939,” denoting the year of the building’s construction.
    Each brick will be sold for $19.39, with the proceeds going to the Caribou Care about Kids Scholarship Fund.
    This summer the Aroostook Republican plans to run a special series of stories regarding residents’ memories of the popular department store. Former employees, customers and others have contributed photos and their written reminisces of the two-level store on Sweden Street.
    Those wanting to contribute to the series may contact the newspaper via e-mail at republican@nepublish.com or through the mail at P.O. Box 608, Caribou, Maine 04736.

Aroostook Republican photo/Debra Walsh
    Jason Landeen watches as an excvator operated by Greg Landeen tears into a wall at the former Corey Building, which housed the popular J.C. Penney department store. Workers started early Wednesday morning to tear down the landmark structure, completing the demolition in two days. Construction teams continued this week to haul away the rubble. Bricks from the building are being sold as keepsakes by the Caribou Chamber of Commerce and Industry with proceeds benefiting a scholarship fund.

Aroostook  Republican photo/Debra Walsh
    Construction worker Mark Condon cuts up a steel beam after it was torn from the Corey Building while it was razed last week by Soderberg Construction of Caribou. The new lot will be used by the U.S. Postal Service for parking.