“From the beginning we were real interested in the archway,” said Tony Smith Wrecking Site Supervisor Aaron Bush. “A few of the sandstone facing came off — other than that it’s still in tact.”
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As it turns out, The Ohio State University Extension Office in Clark County was also very interested in the entryway, and it was agreed that the artifact would be donated to the Snyder Park Arboretum.
Pam Bennett, the office’s extension director and horticulture educator, said a landscape designer will use the Crowell-Collier archway, as well as several pieces that were preserved from the former Memorial Hall to create a combined art piece that resembles an ancient ruin.
“It gives me goosebumps just to think about the story we’ll be able to tell to future generations,” she said — thinking about her own relative who spent time working at Crowell-Collier.
Bennett said she and her staff have worked extensively to collect pieces of Springfield’s history to incorporate throughout the arboretum — from a trail of 10-pound bricks from the former International Harvester plant in the Lagonda Avenue area to fencing from an old house in the city.
The arboretum was the former home of Snyder Park Golf Course but within the last several years has been transformed into a horticulture education garden and greenspace.
Bennett says that adding historical artifacts in a garden setting is not typical — but she does feel that it helps to build a valuable resource to the people in Clark County.
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“One of our values is history,” she said. “I think that’s one of the things about Springfield. Sometimes people don’t realize the treasure that we have — and the fact that people really pay attention to gathering this material and keeping it and using it in a purposeful way.”
Bennett said by the springtime, there will be a master plan submitted by the designer.
Work on the arboretum’s pavilion area will also start at that time, followed by work on the entrance which will include several historical pieces.
Bennett said that should be completed by fall of this year.
The City of Springfield approved a demolition permit for the property in July and the wrecking crew projected the main building on the property, which includes the archway, would be done by Christmas.
The remaining building on the Crowell-Collier property is expected to be torn down within 30-45 days.
45 — days to demolish remaining section of Crowell-Collier
2,725 — employees working at plant in its peak
11 — buildings orginally in the complex
The News-Sun has been the dominant source for news pertaining to the Crowell-Collier building and its demolition. Reporters have updated readers the building’s history, road closures and demo timelines.
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