Work was underway Friday to take down one of the old Vitro Agate Marble buildings near the William P.A, Nicely Bridge on East Street. The structure has been a gathering site for area homeless looking for shelter and has been the site of numerous police and fire calls. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — The remains of the former Vitro Agate Marble Factory in Parkersburg are finally being torn down.

Crews were out at the site at the foot of the William P.A, Nicely Bridge on East Street across from the West Virginia Polo Club Thursday and Friday with excavators and other heavy equipment working on taking down one of the old buildings.

The marble factory was in place for a number of years before closing down. The site has become overgrown and local homeless people have sought shelter there for years.

Andy Nestor, Parkersburg Code Director, said property owner Danny Wilfong, a local businessman, had crews onsite to tear down one of the two buildings. The one being torn down was an old brick building, the one closest to East Street on the site.

“It was an old dilapidated building,” Nestor said. “It has been dilapidated for many years.”

Crews were on site of the former Vitro Agate Marble factory on Friday tearing down the old structure that has in recent years become a gathering place for the area homeless as well as drug activity and other problems. (Photo Provided)

The structures have been used by area homeless people as shelter to get out of bad weather over the years. People have started fires in there to keep warm which has resulted in the Parkersburg Police and the Parkersburg Fire Department being called to respond to the site on numerous occasions dealing with numerous problems.

“It has been a haven for some of the area’s homeless and less fortunate,” Nestor said. “It is a very dangerous building and very unstable to the point it wasn’t safe to be in or around.”

Wilfong obtained a permit through Nestor’s office a couple months ago for the demolition work.

Nestor said the demolition of the buildings is “totally a safety issue.”

The plan is to eventually remove both buildings, Nestor said, adding plans are in place for Wilfong’s people to clear the site of the brush, trash and debris that has accumulated there over the years.

Work was underway Friday to take down one of the old Vitro Agate Marble buildings near the William P.A, Nicely Bridge on East Street. Property owner Danny Wilfong had crews taking down the structure that has been deemed a danger to the local area by local police and fire officials. (Photo Provided)

“He will clear cut that, leave the big trees and clean the whole site up,” Nestor said. “That is a big win for everyone.”

Nestor was with the Parkersburg Fire Department for 25 years and had responded to the site on many occasions along with the police.

“We have been down there numerous times putting out fires from the trash and debris,” he said. “It is a big benefit for everybody, including the safety of the police and fire departments who have had to respond there so many times.”

Local officials have been working with Wilfong for a while to have the building torn down.

“We have been in discussions with Danny over the past few years about getting that thing remediated and he has agreed to do it himself,” Nestor said.

Parkersburg City Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl said over the years there have been fires, drug overdoses, deaths and more at that location. She praised Wilfong for finally tearing the building down.

“God bless Mr. Wilfong for getting rid of that eyesore,” Kuhl said. “Now, there will be no more fires there and no more overdoses there.

“I think it is a great moment for the city of Parkersburg to get rid of another eyesore, especially one that big. It has been a detriment to our city and the homeless.”

With the first building down, both Nestor and Kuhl were not sure when the second building would be torn down as crews would take some time to clear out the site of the first building as there was a lot of steel to deal with.

“Mr. Wilfong will not stop until they have it all to the ground and removed,” Kuhl said. “I really think this is a great day for the city of Parkersburg.”

Wilfong could not be reached for comment.