Amish help with the city's hatchery demolition

The City of Newton purchased the former Newton Hatchery building at North Second Avenue East and East 12th Street last year, under the Dangerous and Dilapidated program.

Now, for the past week, the building is being demolished by Van Ryswyk Plumbing and Heating crews from Monroe. In the spirit of environmental responsibility, Van Ryswyk has teamed up with Emanuel Nisley of Chariton and a group of Amish men, who are salvaging building materials from the old hatchery building. Nisley said they will use the boards in construction of barns and homes.

“That material would just go to the landfill anyway,” Steve Van Ryswyk said.

Newton Mayor Chaz Allen said the lot will be prepared for future development, but couldn’t say if there were any private companies interested in the site at this time.

John Jennings can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 425 or via e-mail at jjennings@newtondailynews.com.