The Assembly Building had been not only the cornerstone of the Shelby Street and Main Street intersection but of the Pendleton County community for over 100 years. It served as a dance hall, movie theater and numerous other events. For those of the older generation, it was the place in Falmouth that they would go to get an ice cream with their family, pick up prescriptions and see friends. The grand ole lady had faced a couple of decades of neglect, and a leaking roof had caused major interior damage. New owners Jeff and Jamie Herbst bought her with the plan to save her and renovate, but as they got into the project, they found out that she was beyond repair and demolition was the only realistic option. After taking down the Bishop Hotel, K & A excavating began to bring the Assembly Building down one small section at a time. Most of the building fell inward, but this section on the Shelby Street side fell toward the sidewalk and created a cloud of dust that wafted throughout the intersection. Photos by Keith Smith. See more photos on page 2.
