The wrecking crew made quick work this week in demolishing the long-vacant office building at 600 First Ave. in Perry.
Perry realtor Glenn Goodale bought the property at 600 First Ave. in 1958 from Ethel Waters of Dayton, Ohio. The building he erected on the property was used as warehouse space until 1979, when Gary Goodale, Glenn’s insurance-selling son, remodeled the building as office space.
Over the next two decades, the offices housed numerous companies, including the Oscar Mayer Employees Credit Union, Mid-Iowa Family Therapy Clinic, Medical Personnel Pool of Iowa, Bailey Insurance, Production Credit Association, Federal Land Bank, Highland Partners, Interim Health Care and probably others now lost to time.
“Goodale Appraisal Service and Soo Line Railroad also had office space in the building!” said David Goodale of Perry, Gary’s oil-company son.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints used the building for services from 2000 to 2003. It was acquired by Harland Properties in 2005 and has stood vacant since then. Local retailer Ron Harland, who had the building demolished, said he has no plans for the lot at present and will maintain it as green space.
