By ED COURRIER

Special to The Press

Only the front entrance section, crowned with an imposing cupola, remained of the original Allentown State Hospital’s main building.

The cloudy skies of Dec. 24, 2020, provided a somber backdrop to the forlorn-looking remnant of what was once a sprawling complex.

Rain began pelting it and the other doomed structures on the grounds as an approaching storm ushered in a soggy Christmas Eve.

Built in 1912 and closed in 2010, the Allentown State Hospital occupied 195 tree-lined acres at 1600 Hanover Ave., in east Allentown.

By 2019, the state sought to raze the buildings to prepare the site for private purchase and development.

Concerned Lehigh Valley residents, seeking to protect the shuttered former psychiatric hospital from being leveled, persuaded Allentown’s City Council to pass a resolution in April 2019 requesting “the commonwealth do everything within its power to save the historically and culturally significant portions of the property from demolition.”

The state was also asked to have a public forum to discuss plans for the property.

Allentown-based developer Nat Hyman offered to buy the property with all structures intact for $2.3 million in 2019.

In a Feb. 17, 2020, email to The Press, Hyman stated, “I offered to pay them the same $2.3 million, they could leave the buildings precisely as they are today and I would refurbish them.

“A profit to the taxpayers and a preservation of our history.”

Despite these efforts, Gov. Tom Wolf supported the state Senate’s unanimous push to demolish the buildings at a cost of $12.7 million.

Neuber Demolition and Environmental Services I, Gilbertsville, was awarded the contract in early January 2020.

State Sen. Pat Browne, R-16th, and state Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-132nd, worked together on the legislation to move ahead with razing the structures.

Along with officials from Allentown and Bethlehem, they currently serve on the recommending committee to select a buyer.

After viewing an “Allentown Chronicles” Facebook alert about the demolition by Allentown School District librarian Pam Kopishke, Bethlehem residents Patrick and Alyissa Gallagher decided to check out what was left of the structures on Dec. 24, 2020.

The Gallaghers agreed some of the buildings should have been preserved.

Along the temporary chain link fencing surrounding the 1912 portion of the Allentown State Hospital were mementos left behind by onlookers who mourned the loss of vintage architecture to the wrecking ball.

These included photographs of the hospital buildings, eyeglasses, Christmas decor and Day of the Dead skull decorations.

One visitor posted an anonymous note denouncing the state’s decision to condemn the 108-year-old Allentown State Hospital buildings.

In addition to a few insults hurled at the contactor, it read, “Stop Destroying, Start Saving!”

“Hello. Just to let everyone know, the main building of the Allentown State Hospital is down today!!,” was posted on Facebook by another “Allentown Chronicles” member on Dec. 28.

As reported in The Press in February 2020, demolition is expected to be completed by February 2021.

The contract completion date is May 2021.