Many thought the old brewery was ready to collapse. But the building had other ideas.

It’s twisted and leaning, but the former Kaier Brewery building, the century-old industrial behemoth in Mahanoy City, is still standing.The former office and brewhouse is giving work crews all they can handle in early attempts at razing the structure. The complex includes a main tower reaching more than 100 feet high.“It was made with good steel, not the imported stuff,” said Louis Huber, town councilman.Demolition by Lycoming Supply, Williamsport, had a late start. It was expected to begin early Thursday following a morning meeting among borough officials, project engineers, representatives of OSHA and other parties.However, delays pushed the start until after lunch. Even then, another 30-minute delay was called at 12:24 p.m. to wait for a representative of PPL Corporation to be summoned to the site.Emotions run highFor many of the scores of residents who turned out to watch the proceeding, the destruction of the Kaier complex represents the end of an era for a town that thrived and identified with the Kaier dynasty, an empire that included not only a large brewery, but an opera house and hotel.“My father worked there for 25 years and so did my uncle Tom. My father was mainly a painter or utility worker,” said resident Paul Coombe, webmaster and archivist of the Mahanoy Area Historical Society.Interestingly, one of the firefighters working the scene is a descendant of Kaier founder Charles D. Kaier.“He was my great-great-great grandfather,” said Pete Walinchus, a volunteer with Citizens Fire Co. Walinchus said the brewery, which closed in 1967, was already out of business by the time he grew up.Still, Walinchus understands the importance of the Kaier name and said the loss of a Kaier symbol is being felt widely.“It’ll leave a hole in the community,” he said.Razing to resumeCrews were able to dismantle the brickwork from the upper two floors on Thursday, leaving a skeleton of steel girders on top.Workers were expected to resume workthis morning, still uncertain of the ultimate timetable to secure the site.In a sense, the demolition procedure is a study in contrasts. Bricks seem to fall easily at the swipe of a Crane’s clamshell jaws. But steel girders supporting the framework appear to be stubborn and strong, a defining skeleton that remains in place.A project that was estimated at taking “either two hours or two days,” according to guesswork by a demolition expert, might just take the full two days or longer.Making the site safe is a priority, say officials.“The building is unstable,” said Mahanoy City Fire Lt. David Truskowsky.About 20 residents of the neighborhood have been evacuated since Tuesday and are anxious to get back in their homes.In addition, an adjacent day care has been closed since early in the week and a detour for Route 339 has been in place until the area can be made safe.According to Coombe, the Charles D. Kaier Brewing Co. closed in 1967 after being sold to Philadelphia’s Ortlieb Brewery.Future plansOnce the building is leveled, the area will be transformed into a community park.Grants totaling $420,000 for that purpose were announced in 2014 by state Sen. David Argall, R-29.The recreation area is part of Phase IV of the borough’s Central Business District Streetscape Revitalization Program.Mayor Patti Schnitzius said emotion over loss of a landmark is understandable, but it’s also tempered by the reality of good things to come.“The park will be called Kaier Park and dedicated to U.S. veterans,” said Schnitzius.She also spoke of putting the event in perspective.“Yes, it’s sad whenever you lose a piece of your community. But the men of Kaier’s will always be part of our town.”