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CAT Tracks for May 19, 2013
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO... |
Hmmm...
...or even:
What the f...uh, foolishness is this?!
Some background...
Cairo is in the fourth year of its big demolition project.
In the paper, they called it "Phase Three". However, the first year, they took down the west side of downtown Commercial Avenue. The second year, they took down the east side of same. Then, last year it was all about the town...is proceeding with a vengeance during the fourth year.
Maybe the labeling of "Phase Three" has to do with the funding.
Anyway...
Previously, I indicated that I would not be offering periodic coverage. For once, I stuck to my "promise".
However, absurdities often move me even when major events fail to rile. This is one of those cases.
I mean...
I was certainly tempted, the city has leveled some major structures during this whatever phase:
Sadly, wo other recent victims were left standing in the same area because they weren't "on the schedule". (Demolition can't keep up with Cairo's arsonists!)
That observation prompts me to offer a catty commentary...
There was a big blazing picture on the front of this week's Monday's Pub, captioned that a training had been conducted for area fire fighters. Conspicuously absent was the Cairo fire department. Hey, who needs some damn mock training exercise when you fight the real deal every other week or so, sometimes twice on Sunday.
Yes, I have digressed...
Hell, the demolition crew even attacked the vegetation that was the former Solomon Junk Yard and that had surrounded the old hospital (for better or worse.)
Sadly, nature rivals the arsonists, taking back so many structures in Cairo...
...some you literally cannot see that they still stand (again, possibly a good thing.)
Back on topic:
The old McKesson & Robbins building at the corner of 5th and Commercial.
Never paid any attention to the list of sites scheduled for demolition. (Hey, just because I post stuff, don't think for a second that I actually read all of it. A CAT's gotta have time to do the nap thing!)
So...
My jaw did the drop thing when my drive down Commercial was interrupted by barriers closing off the block.
OMG!!!
Never in my wildest dreams...
...I mean, that is one huge building!
A few pictures of the progress.
Okay, I'm done with the "intro".
It's time for the hmmm/WTF thing...
Knowing the history of Cairo as I do, imagine my chagrin when I noticed that the demolition people started dumping bricks and huge chucks of concrete on the previously cleaned lot just to the south.
I mean...
Down on the corner from me (where I do some of my volunteer mowing) are piles of brick and concrete from when the water lines on my street were replaced. That was several years ago. (I know, I know...I should be thankful. If they hadn't dumped it there, I would be mowing the whole lot instead of the strip between the curb and the sidewalk. Not to mention the wilderness area...)
So...
Was it any wonder that figured that we would be rid of an eyesore building only to create an eyesore dump site. Sigh...
But, lo and behold!
A couple of days later, the brick and concrete were gone!!!
Uh, well...
Moved.
The rubble was transported north a block, to the empty field across the street from the McKesson & Robbins building...to be joined by a whole lot more:
But, I think I have this one figured out...
Due to the size of the building and the time involved in tearing it down, the demolition people cannot simply have trucks lined up to be filled with refuse and hauled away. Plus, they will most likely try to salvage the useable bricks, another time-consuming endeavor. Yes, I will ass-u-me that when all is done, the trucks and cranes and bulldozers will come forth to reclaim the vacant lot.
Call me an optimist...
Then again...
I am given to 'paws'.
This is Cairo.
The aforementioned lot to the south...
...the temporary 'parking place' for the McKesson & Robbins rubble.
One of the requirements of the demolition crews is that when they clear an a lot, they must sow grass seed, covering same with straw to fight erosion and aid in growth.
Now for the picture of what prompted this post:
They left an effing pile of dirt, sowed grass seed, and spread the straw?!
I'm speechless...
