Demolition begins on former icehouse

There has been no ice in the old Central Illinois Public Service Co. icehouse in Springfield for more than a decade.

Now, the more-than-100-year-old structure, last used as a paintball court, is coming down.

We want to get this cleaned up, owner Joe Chernis said Monday. Were looking across the street and we have the Lincoln (Home) National Historic Site. Theres just so much that could be done with that area.

Chernis, who was the only bidder on the property at 918 E. Edwards St. at a 2009 bank auction, said he concluded the site would be more attractive to potential developers minus the aging icehouse.

The property is actually four buildings on 1.2 acres. It was built in about 1909, according to newspaper archives. CIPS privatized its ice sales in 1940, the archives showed, and the building was owned by a series of ice companies through the decades.

A paintball business operated in part of the building for a time after the last company, Polar Ice, moved out in 2000.

Route 66 tie-in?

Midwest Demolition, operated by Chernis and his son, Joey, should have the site cleared in a couple of weeks, Joe Chernis said Monday.

He said there is little salvage value in the property, adding that there has been more interest in the site than in the building the past couple of years.

Chernis said he has had discussions with city and tourism officials about possible uses for the property, including the on-and-off idea of a Route 66 visitor center and museum. Ninth Street is among the routes followed by the historic route through Springfield.

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Demolition begins on former icehouse