by Michael R. Allen
On the first night of wrecking the Switzer Building on Laclede’s Landing, the going was slow. The crane operator knocked loose a few columns and triggered one small collapse, but stopped wrecking by midnight. There are many nights ahead this week before the memorable painted Switzer signs on the south and north elevations disappear, and more time before the primary elevation on 1st Street is gone forever.
Several people gathered on the upper level of the riverfront parking garage to watch the wrecking.