The building at 15 Dreyer Ave., in Old Town Eureka, commonly known as the Ice House, is gone. It was torn down this morning (Feb. 24).
During a condemnation hearing held on Feb. 19, the Eureka Board of Aldermen voted 5-1 for the Ice House to come down. Ward 3 Alderman Steve Grzyb voted no.
The building was owned by Joe Boccardi.
Eureka City Administrator Craig Sabo said the city has received a few complaints and concerns about the condition and safety of the building and those complaints started the condemnation process again.
The structure has been condemned twice before. A permit to demolish the building was granted in November 2017, but the demolition was canceled because Boccardi wanted to have an engineer who specializes in historic structures look at the building.
Various dates are reported for construction of the Ice House.
One published report claims it was built in 1871. But former Ward 2 Alderwoman Marilyn Leistner, who is also a member of the Eureka Historical Society, said St. Louis County records indicate the structure was built in 1909. And she noted Eureka’s records show it being built in 1915.
The Ice House is not currently on a state or federal historic registry, and because the building’s original windows were removed and vinyl siding was added to the structure, it likely would not qualify for historic status.