Demolition at Easton iron foundry resumes

Demolition has resumed at the former iron foundry on Foundry Street.

The former Belcher Iron Foundry has been abandoned since 2007. It was the source of much consternation among neighbors, who considered it a source of noise and soot pollution.

Those bad feelings flared up again when a demolition company, The Total Group, started tearing down the building in July, apparently without properly wetting down materials, causing black soot to float through the air and onto nearby residents homes.

Later, officials realized the company hadnt filed the proper permits with the state Department of Environmental Protection. Easton Building Inspector Mark Trivett said they checked renovation rather than demolition on the state paperwork, although they did obtain an emergency demolition permit from the town, citing safety concerns. Work on the project was halted, leaving a partially destroyed factory.

Within the past week, work started up again with a new demolition contractor, Raynham-based Carney Environmental. A large water truck could be seen at the site with workers wetting down material as excavators and other large machines took apart the remaining structures.

They did it right, Trivett said on Wednesday. He added that he insisted that the company communicate with neighbors, including sending out mailers as well as old-fashioned door knocking.

Trivett and Health Inspector Mark Taylor also checked in with state environmental officials to make sure all the proper dust control and demolition permits were filed.

Carney also got approval to take down the building in the back of the site from the towns Conservation Commission on Monday. That boards approval was needed for a portion of the demolition because of a nearby wetland.

Justin Graeber may be reached at jgraeber@enterprisenews.com or follow him on Twitter @justingraeber.

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Demolition at Easton iron foundry resumes