DEMOLITION UNDER WAY — Crews with Moderalli Excavating of Youngstown began work Saturday morning to remove the three-story Cooper Hardware building at North Third and Market streets in Toronto. -- Warren Scott

TORONTO — Crews Saturday began demolition of a three-story building that has stood at the corner of North Third and Market streets for 140 years.

Moderalli Excavating of Youngstown was hired to do the work by the Jefferson County Land Revitalization Committee following concerns from city officials about the structure’s condition.

Yellow tape was extended around it after Toronto Council learned its roof had collapsed, its glass windows were broken and some bricks had fallen from it.

Through its land bank program, the Jefferson County agency secured federal funds for the $121,700 for the project and hired Raze International of Shadyside to remove asbestos from the building.

It’s expected to transfer the remaining 9,600-square-foot lot to the city.

Mayor John Parker said he’s pursuing funds to create a small amphitheater at the site, which is not far from the Gazebo Commons, where the volunteer Inspire Toronto group holds a series of free summer concerts.

Organizers of the concerts hope this Wednesday’s concert can be held as planned.

Market Street and a section of North Third Street have been closed while the work is performed.

Crews were delayed for a while on Saturday because of equipment issues.

Through the weekend, some residents stopped to watch.

Among them was Bill Cox, who recalled working as a high school student at the Cooper Hardware Store that once occupied the building.

“They had everything — plumbing, electrical, lumber, concrete, paint. You name it. It was like a mini-Lowe’s (Home Improvement.) That place was packed full,” he said.

Cox said his bosses were Bill and Harold Cooper, whose father, William, had opened the store many years before.

“It was a great experience for me. I learned so much about electrical and plumbing from those two brothers,” he said, adding following graduation, he went on to work in construction.

Cox said his last year at the store was 1989.

Carolyn Walker, volunteer curator of the Main Street Museum run by the Toronto Historical Society, also was on hand.

Walker said the hardware store closed in 1991 and had been preceded by the Francy Store, a large department store that sold clothing and shoes for all ages, household items and furniture, among other merchandise.

It was built in 1886 and run by John Francy, an Irish immigrant, and said to be a venture he pursued following his retirement from the pipe and brick industry.

Believed to be the first department store in Northern Jefferson County, it attracted a large number of shoppers for many years but ultimately closed around 1946, said Walker.

She said the building also contained the city’s post office for a time and a bowling alley.

Walker noted it had sat vacant for about 16 years when the Coopers moved into it.

They had run hardware stores previously at the corner of North Third Street and Freeman Avenue and at the present site of the Dollar General store on North Fourth Street.

Walker said William Cooper applied his experience in carpentry to renovating the Francy building, adding a water-powered hydraulic elevator and other improvements.

Chuck Grimm, a longtime Toronto resident, recalled the Coopers also operating a rollerskating rink in town.

He noted another source of entertainment was the Manos Theater, which operated not far from the Cooper building.

“There have been a lot of changes in this city. There’s a lot of history in in this town,” he said.