Haverhill smokestack to be demolished after lightning strike cracks brick

BOSTON — The stormy weekend weather continued Sunday after severe conditions throughout the state brought hail and flooding in different towns in Massachusetts.

In Haverhill, lightning struck the smokestack of the Hamel Mill Lofts, which has stood since 1920, cracking the tower and sending crumbling bricks to the ground.

"We live in the 9th floor and we can see the tower right outside our window," said Catherine Scully, a resident who lives in the building. "It sounded like a gunshot went off right outside our window."

The building was a shoe mill for many years before it was converted into apartments five years ago.

About 100 people who live in the units were evacuated due to how close the tower is to the apartments and the falling brick

Engineers were at the scene Sunday assessing the damage and determining whether the historic smokestack would need to be demolished.

It will have to come down. Carefully, brick by brick, with the help of a crane.

James Fiorentini, Haverhill's mayor, said the smokestack was a reminder of the past, standing tall amid the biggest redevelopment project the town has seen, when the building was turned into lofts. "This was at one time one of the largest shoe factories in the whole world, Hamel Leather Company, this was a symbol, so we’re sorry to see it go but safety has to come first," he said.

But not all history will be lost. The grandchildren of the Hamel family have asked that some of the bricks be saved, and the mayor said they will be donated to the local museum.

A spokesperson for the property said in a statement: "The safety of our residents and staff is our number one priority. We are grateful no one was injured in the lightning strike, and we are of course cooperating fully with local authorities to secure the area."

Fiorentini said the goal is to dismantle the smokestack down to the letter 'A' by the day's end and allow residents to safely return to their homes.

Cox Media Group