The demolition of the former Atlantic Foundry building at 182 Beaver St. in Akron’s Middlebury neighborhood began Thursday afternoon.

According to Summit Memory, Charles Reymann Sr., a French immigrant from Alsace-Lorraine, along with four foundrymen, launched the business in 1905 to meet the growing demand for iron. In 1919, they added a huge steel foundry at the same site and began a steel casting business. The company closed in 1989. 

The Summit County Land Bank kicked off the demolition using funding from the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program to help pay for the work, with the idea that the property becomes available for economic development in the future.

Wylan Evans, 11, and his dad, Ben Evans, both of North Canton, film the beginning stages of demolition of the Atlantic Foundry building.
Wylan Evans, 11, and his dad, Ben Evans, both of North Canton, film the beginning stages of demolition of the Atlantic Foundry building Thursday, March 7, 2024, on the edge of Akron’s Middlebury neighborhood. The Summit County Land Bank kicked off the demolition of the building, located at 182 Beaver Street, with funding from the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program. Credit: (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)
Water is sprayed while debris falls as the demolition of the Atlantic Foundry building.
Water is sprayed while debris falls as the demolition of the Atlantic Foundry building begins Thursday, March 7, 2024, on the edge of Akron’s Middlebury neighborhood. The Summit County Land Bank kicked off the demolition of the building, located at 182 Beaver Street, with funding from the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program. Credit: (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)
The demolition of the Atlantic Foundry building
The demolition of the Atlantic Foundry building on the edge of Akron’s Middlebury neighborhood began Thursday, March 7, 2024. The Summit County Land Bank kicked off the demolition of the building, located at 182 Beaver Street, with funding from the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program. Credit: (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)
Patrick Bravo, executive director of the Summit County Land Bank.
Patrick Bravo, executive director of the Summit County Land Bank, speaks during a press conference before the demolition of the Atlantic Foundry building. The Summit County Land Bank kicked off the demolition of the building, located at 182 Beaver Street, with funding from the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program. Thursday, March 7, 2024 Credit: (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)
The demolition of the Atlantic Foundry building.
The demolition of the Atlantic Foundry building on the edge of Akron’s Middlebury neighborhood begins Thursday, March 7, 2024. The Summit County Land Bank kicked off the demolition of the building, located at 182 Beaver Street, with funding from the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program. Credit: (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)
Legend Hartney, 2, sits on his aunt Alley Hartney’s shoulders while watching the beginning stages of demolition of the Atlantic Foundry building.
Legend Hartney, 2, sits on his aunt Alley Hartney’s shoulders while watching the beginning stages of demolition of the Atlantic Foundry building Thursday, March 7, 2024, on the edge of Akron’s Middlebury neighborhood. The Summit County Land Bank kicked off the demolition of the building, located at 182 Beaver Street, with funding from the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program.
Ward 5 Council Member Johnnie Hannah
Ward 5 Council Member Johnnie Hannah waves as he’s introduced before the demolition of the Atlantic Foundry building. The Summit County Land Bank kicked off the demolition of the building, located at 182 Beaver Street, with funding from the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program. Thursday, March 7, 2024
Legend Hartney, 2, hugs his great-grandma, Joanie Halman.
Legend Hartney, 2, hugs his great-grandma, Joanie Halman, while watching the beginning stages of demolition of the Atlantic Foundry building on the edge of Akron’s Middlebury neighborhood. The Summit County Land Bank kicked off the demolition of the building, located at 182 Beaver Street, with funding from the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program. Thursday, March 7, 2024 Credit: (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)

Multimedia reporter/producer (she/her)
Kassi Filkins strives to be an active part of whatever community she finds herself in and joins Signal Akron in its mission to bring accessible and community-focused news to all Akronites.

Kassi was born and raised in Central Ohio and is a photojournalism graduate of Kent State University. She was a staff member at the Southeast Missourian and the Hartford Courant before working in non-profit communications.

Kassi lives in Highland Square and enjoys local coffee shops, walking along trails in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and hanging out with her dogs, cat and husband.

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.