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Do IT this week: Layering
By Paula Schleis
Beacon Journal business writer
POSTED: 07:58 p.m. EDT, Mar 16, 2009
The former Midwest Rubber plant straddling the Barberton-Norton line was a historically significant cog in the region's tire-making industry.
It was far better known for polluting the neighborhood, stubborn tire fires that inconvenienced local fire departments, and being on the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's radar.
Now, it's on its way to being a pile of rubble and — officials hope — the future site of new economic development.
Crews have brought down much of the building at 745 Norton Ave., although the original structure built by town founder O.C. Barber is currently standing.
The city and the Barberton Community Development Corp. worked with property owner D.S. OH Limited Partnership and contractor BJAAM Environmental Inc. of Canal Fulton to help get the EPA approvals necessary before razing could begin, Building Commissioner Jim Bauschlinger said.
Unclear is the fate of the nearly 100-year-old original building that has escaped the wrecking ball so far. Larry Lallo of the BCDC said it would be ''sad'' to lose the building, but no one reached today (including city officials and D.S. OH attorney Shane Farolino) knew if its demise was a foregone conclusion.
The three-story neoclassical structure was built in 1913 to house the O.C. Barber Concrete Co., which made precast concrete products.
''Early projects for the products of the Concrete Co. included the construction of Barberton Central High School and Norton High School,'' according to a publication by the Barberton Historical Society.
In 1923, the building was sold to the newly formed Akron Rubber Reclaiming Co., organized by industrial financier William Welch, friend of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. founders F.A. and C.W. Seiberling. The Seiberlings talked Welch into forming the firm to create a scrap rubber supply for their nearby Seiberling Rubber Co., according to Akron Beacon Journal archives.
Akron Rubber opened an associate firm in Illinois under the name Midwest Rubber Reclaiming. After the Barberton plant closed during the Great Depression, the Illinois firm bought the property and continued reclaiming operations under the Midwest name.
Midwest began custom mixing operations in 1957, and ended reclaiming activity in 1973. When Midwest Rubber Custom Mixing closed for good in January 2002, eliminating about 100 jobs, it was owned by Roanoke, Va.-based RBX Corp, which had filed for bankruptcy.
Tire debris on the property has caught fire several times, most recently in August 2008. And the site made several Ohio EPA hazardous waste lists over the years.
Farolino, of the Akron firm Roetzel & Andress, said D.S. OH has owned the property since 1986, and that most of the contamination happened before the mid-1970s.
BJAAM Environmental Inc. has reported to the Ohio EPA that environmental work on the property is complete and that no further action is necessary, Farolino said. The application suggests the site be restricted to commercial and industrial.
All involved hope to have final approval from the Ohio EPA by the end of the year, Farolino said, ''so everyone can collectively explore some future use of the site.''
Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com.
The former Midwest Rubber plant straddling the Barberton-Norton line was a historically significant cog in the region's tire-making industry.
It was far better known for polluting the neighborhood, stubborn tire fires that inconvenienced local fire departments, and being on the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's radar.
Now, it's on its way to being a pile of rubble and — officials hope — the future site of new economic development.
Crews have brought down much of the building at 745 Norton Ave., although the original structure built by town founder O.C. Barber is currently standing.
The city and the Barberton Community Development Corp. worked with property owner D.S. OH Limited Partnership and contractor BJAAM Environmental Inc. of Canal Fulton to help get the EPA approvals necessary before razing could begin, Building Commissioner Jim Bauschlinger said.
Unclear is the fate of the nearly 100-year-old original building that has escaped the wrecking ball so far. Larry Lallo of the BCDC said it would be ''sad'' to lose the building, but no one reached today (including city officials and D.S. OH attorney Shane Farolino) knew if its demise was a foregone conclusion.
The three-story neoclassical structure was built in 1913 to house the O.C. Barber Concrete Co., which made precast concrete products.
''Early projects for the products of the Concrete Co. included the construction of Barberton Central High School and Norton High School,'' according to a publication by the Barberton Historical Society.
In 1923, the building was sold to the newly formed Akron Rubber Reclaiming Co., organized by industrial financier William Welch, friend of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. founders F.A. and C.W. Seiberling. The Seiberlings talked Welch into forming the firm to create a scrap rubber supply for their nearby Seiberling Rubber Co., according to Akron Beacon Journal archives.
Akron Rubber opened an associate firm in Illinois under the name Midwest Rubber Reclaiming. After the Barberton plant closed during the Great Depression, the Illinois firm bought the property and continued reclaiming operations under the Midwest name.
Midwest began custom mixing operations in 1957, and ended reclaiming activity in 1973. When Midwest Rubber Custom Mixing closed for good in January 2002, eliminating about 100 jobs, it was owned by Roanoke, Va.-based RBX Corp, which had filed for bankruptcy.
Tire debris on the property has caught fire several times, most recently in August 2008. And the site made several Ohio EPA hazardous waste lists over the years.
Farolino, of the Akron firm Roetzel & Andress, said D.S. OH has owned the property since 1986, and that most of the contamination happened before the mid-1970s.
BJAAM Environmental Inc. has reported to the Ohio EPA that environmental work on the property is complete and that no further action is necessary, Farolino said. The application suggests the site be restricted to commercial and industrial.
All involved hope to have final approval from the Ohio EPA by the end of the year, Farolino said, ''so everyone can collectively explore some future use of the site.''
Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Anti-Politically Correct & Anti-GOP, OH
Posted 08:25 PM, 03/16/2009
Wow. Talk about late reporting. They have been in the process of demolishing this place for a month and a half now.
east of Akron, AA
Posted 10:48 AM, 03/17/2009
figures, that spd3333, with his anti-elephant avatar, would bring that up. Don't bother commenting on the story itself, just bash the reporter/newspaper bringing the story!
Barberton, Oh
Posted 11:09 AM, 03/17/2009
Congrats to the Cities of Barberton and Norton. This has been an albetros around both Cities for some time now. This land is ripe for development - something Barberton is short on. I commned the collective efforts of each city along with the Barberton Community Development Corp. (one of the finest job-retention/creation entities in the County) in this new venture.
Barberton, OH
Posted 12:14 PM, 03/17/2009
It's albatross.
Posted 02:48 PM, 03/17/2009
Proof Barberton discriminates residents of Snyder Town!!!
Hey they'd still have Magic Football & Magic Basketball if this Company was bailed out !!!!
Norton, OH
Posted 03:38 PM, 03/17/2009
How exactly is this "Proof Barberton discriminates residents of Snyder Town!!!"?
Pretty sure this article was just about demolishing a building...
Posted 08:38 AM, 03/18/2009
I think the company that is completing the demolition is doing an excellent job and keeping the site safe for everyone involved.
Posted 11:02 AM, 03/18/2009
I used to swim at Lake Anna and had relatives in Barberton.
Sorry you can't stand distant humour as we avoid the wrath of Summit County.
Namely Akron's Viscous Katholik's & Onkel Tom's !!!
