Seneca Co. Courthouse Demolition: 01-04

Front end loaders ripped away the concrete steps on the Washington Street side of Seneca County’s 1884 courthouse – the first blow to the building’s exterior. Bricks and stone were crushed and spread on the ground nearby, apparently in an attempt to create a firm base for heavy wrecking equipment. B&B Wrecking and Excavating of Cleveland, which was hired by county commissioners to demolish the historic courthouse for $373,000, prepared for demolition January 4, 2012. CLICK ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE, START SLIDESHOW

Enlarge | Buy This Photo The 1884 Seneca County courthouse is shown as final preparations are made for its demolition in Tiffin, Ohio. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Lin Talbot-Koehl, of Tiffin, creates a sign before protesting in front of the courthouse. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Protesters stand in front of the statue of William Harvey Gibson on the courthouse lawn. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Nancy Rubenstein, of Tiffin, stands in front of the courthouse. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Lenora Livingston, of Tiffin, left, and Brenda Stultz, of Adams Twp., hang a sign which reads in part "Save Our Courthouse". THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Enlarge | Buy This Photo From left, Nancy Rubenstein, Suzanne Smith, Lin Talbot-Koehl, all of Tiffin, Mary Lewis, of Seneca County, Brenda Stultz, of ... THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Lin Talbot-Koehl, left, and her daughter Kristina Talbot-Koehl, 16, both of Tiffin protest the demolition of the 1884 ... THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Lin Talbot-Koehl, left, and her daughter Kristina both protest outside the Seneca County courthouse. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Suzanne Smith, of Tiffin, takes photographs of the county courthouse on the morning of its scheduled demolition. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Elva Einsel, 83, of Tiffin, poses for a photograph outside the Seneca County Courthouse. She has lived in Tiffin for ... THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Workers assemble a crane in preparation for demolition of The Seneca County Courthouse. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Workers assemble a crane amid rubble from The Seneca County Courthouse. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY

Enlarge | Buy This Photo A nativity set still stands outside the courthouse. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Workers prepare to assemble a crane. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Some steps of the Seneca County Courthouse have been removed. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Some steps and other parts of the courthouse have been removed. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Suzanne Smith of Eden Township in Seneca County demonstrates outside the Courthouse. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Workers prepare to assemble a crane, left. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY

Enlarge Heavy machinery is used as crews demolish the large staircase leading to the west side of the Seneca County Courthouse. FREMONT NEWS MESSANGER

Enlarge Heavy machinery is used as crews demolish the large staircase leading to the west side of the Seneca County Courthouse. FREMONT NEWS MESSANGER