MARIA STEIN — A decision has been made about the future of a historic Catholic church damaged by high winds months after a devastating fire.
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After exploring options, it has been decided that the upper portion of the tower at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Maria Stein cannot be removed safely.
“They have advised controlled demolition. Unfortunately, it is no longer safe nor prudent to keep the remaining church structure,” the Marion Catholic Community shared on social media.
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A demolition team will be on-site on Friday to prepare for the controlled demolition, which is expected to begin Saturday. It’s anticipated to take two days to complete.
The goal is the try and protect the façade of the front entrance and other decorative stone work around the church.
Debris removal will happen at a later date.
“The church was tested for environmental hazards during the debris removal and has been approved by the (Environmental Protection Agency) for demolition. There will be dust from the demolition. Neighbors in the affected area will be notified by FIRST ONSITE on Friday to use caution,” the post stated.
As News Center 7 previously reported, the church was heavily damaged in a devastating fire in May. It sustained further damage from high winds this past weekend.
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