Wayne Junction’s Van Straaten and Havey building is no more [Gallery]

November 6, 2012
  • <p><p>Domino Excavating is the contractor responsible for the demolition work. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>Domino Excavating is the contractor responsible for the demolition work. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>The demolition crew took a break across the street. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>The demolition crew took a break across the street. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>The city began demolition work on the vacant building at 133 Berkley St. in early October.. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>The city began demolition work on the vacant building at 133 Berkley St. in early October.. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>A sign posted at the Van Straaten and Havey silk-mill demolition site in Wayne Junction urged passersby to steer clear. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>A sign posted at the Van Straaten and Havey silk-mill demolition site in Wayne Junction urged passersby to steer clear. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>The Van Straaten and Havey walls came tumbing down last week. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>The Van Straaten and Havey walls came tumbing down last week. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>The Van Straaten and Havey silk mill was reduced to a pile of rubble after a demolition crew took down its walls last week. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>The Van Straaten and Havey silk mill was reduced to a pile of rubble after a demolition crew took down its walls last week. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>How the since-demolished building looked in mid-September, as seen from the roof of the nearby Max Levy building. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>How the since-demolished building looked in mid-September, as seen from the roof of the nearby Max Levy building. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>Industrial structure on 133 Berkley St. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>Industrial structure on 133 Berkley St. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>

The former Van Straaten and Havey silk mill building, on which demolition work began on Berkley Street last month, has been reduced to rubble.

Though among the 17 former industrial sites included in the Wayne Junction National Historic District, which recognizes a long period in Philadelphia’s history when the streets surrounding the train station were alive with industrial activity, it was deemed to dangerous to remain standing.

The Department of Licenses and Inspections deemed it in imminent danger of collapse once a portion of the ceiling fell in and undermined a support wall, said spokeswoman Maura Kennedy.

Before that, the site had racked up property maintenance violations for trash, weeds and being unsecured.

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The Van Straaten and Havey property is owned by a seemingly defunct non-profit, the Eddie Francis Cancer and Recovery Foundation.

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