The “red-tape nightmare” of Ripley’s Corner Bar is over.

Demolition began at 9 a.m. on Monday with an excavator, run by ETIC Demolition Company, taking a swipe at the east side of the building and bringing down the add-on structures in short order. By 11 a.m. the entire building was reduced to a large pile of rubble.

The Ripley Town Board has struggled for almost three years to get the building known over time as Reed’s Tavern, McGerl’s Tavern and The Corner Bar demolished.

State regulations and EPA requirements have held up the process for the most part. Town of Ripley workers were trained in hazardous materials regulations in order to assist in tearing down the building themselves, rather than pay a demolition company to do the entire tear-down, thereby saving Ripley taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars.

Air samples were taken before demolition began and then monitored during the demolition to ensure that asbestos particles in the air did not reach dangerous levels. While the building was being constantly sprayed with water to avoid this problem, a light rain helped the process.

In 1882 the bar housed a drug store, dry goods store, grocery store and a billiard parlor early in its history. Plans were made to add a modern hotel to the second floor.

Shortly after World War II in 1946, it became a tavern under the ownership of Ervin and Letha Reed. The tavern continued to be a prosperous enterprise for decades under various ownerships and many Ripley residents still recall the excellent food and atmosphere to be found there.

The small crowd of on-lookers remarked how sad it was to see the 150-year-old building go, but agreed it was time.

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