Joliet's History Reduced To Pile Of Rubble: 8 Demo Photos

JOLIET — It has been over 40 years since U.S. Steel pulled out of Joliet and stopped producing steel here, but signs of U.S. Steel remained in existence, including 927 Collins Street, the former administration offices for U.S. Steel.

But Saturday's early morning fire brought an end to that history. After the Joliet Fire Department put out the overnight fire, Joliet's Gould Brother Construction, the same company hired to demolish the empty Our Lady Of Angels retirement home off Ingalls Avenue, was tasked with taking down 927 Collins Street on Saturday afternoon.

It was a successful effort for the long-time Joliet demolition contractor, as you can see by their photos.

Meanwhile, Joliet historian Mary Beth Gannon posted daytime photos of the Joliet Fire Department still putting out hot spots from the early morning fire on her Facebook page, lamenting: "And this is why I regularly take photos of old homes and buildings in Joliet, because you never know when they may be gone. 1 of 2 Daniel Burnham buildings left now in ruins."