116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
A building explosion - 1946 style
The old Washington High School stood at 401 Fifth Street, across the street from Greene Square Park. It was built in 1890 of Stone City limestone and included a carillon, leaded glass windows and Gothic towers. A growing student population required an addition in 1910, but by the early 1930s, the school had fallen into disrepair and closed for good in 1935. It met with demolition in 1946.
1905
1930
Two blasts with nearly 40 sticks of dynamite finally lowered the tower of the old Washington High School on Fourth Avenue at Greene Square Park about 7:00 a.m. Friday as razing the building neared its final stages. The first blast, set off about 6:35 a.m. when some 25 sticks were detonated, failed to drop the tower and a second blasting was required. August 30, 1946.
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