Though still standing, scattered pieces of broken
bricks and the continuous rainfall are what's left behind at an Abilene
landmark, after a long night of violent lightning.
"We heard thunder, then all of a sudden, a big loud crash", says Donna Cosby, employee.
They speculate that lighting struck the smoke stack two or three times, causing bricks to explode, and employees to panic.
"Normally, thunder and lightning does not scare me, but that one was so loud that we both jumped. It sounded like something on the roof had knocked over or exploded", Cosby tells us.
The parking lot was full of employee vehicles when the bricks went flying. Thankfully, there was minimal damage, only a few dents, not even a broken windshield.
Jeff Goza works at the Center and believes the damage to the smoke stack is not structural.
"We think it's more cosmetic at this point, we contacted an engineering firm. Of course the biggest thing is that we have to get up there close and personal to look at it, so we are gonna see if we can get a high lift", says Goza.
Walking into the old building, steam heat fills the room, as boilers continue to run that connect to the smoke stack.
"Steam is being generated in our two active boilers here. It brings in treated water. Gas-fired or diesel-fired burners then turns the water into steam, and is then sent out to the homes for heat", Goza explains.
Over 100 years-old, the smoke stack building at the Abilene State Supported Living Center still functions as primary heating source for several buildings on campus.
"It's been around since the early 1900's, a long time. You can tell by looking at it. Of course we renovated it over the years, and added a lot of modern controls", says Goza.
For now, they will begin assessing the aftermath of the storm.
The Abilene State Supported Living Center tells us that they will be bringing in engineers that specialize in historic structures.
"We heard thunder, then all of a sudden, a big loud crash", says Donna Cosby, employee.
They speculate that lighting struck the smoke stack two or three times, causing bricks to explode, and employees to panic.
"Normally, thunder and lightning does not scare me, but that one was so loud that we both jumped. It sounded like something on the roof had knocked over or exploded", Cosby tells us.
The parking lot was full of employee vehicles when the bricks went flying. Thankfully, there was minimal damage, only a few dents, not even a broken windshield.
Jeff Goza works at the Center and believes the damage to the smoke stack is not structural.
"We think it's more cosmetic at this point, we contacted an engineering firm. Of course the biggest thing is that we have to get up there close and personal to look at it, so we are gonna see if we can get a high lift", says Goza.
Walking into the old building, steam heat fills the room, as boilers continue to run that connect to the smoke stack.
"Steam is being generated in our two active boilers here. It brings in treated water. Gas-fired or diesel-fired burners then turns the water into steam, and is then sent out to the homes for heat", Goza explains.
Over 100 years-old, the smoke stack building at the Abilene State Supported Living Center still functions as primary heating source for several buildings on campus.
"It's been around since the early 1900's, a long time. You can tell by looking at it. Of course we renovated it over the years, and added a lot of modern controls", says Goza.
For now, they will begin assessing the aftermath of the storm.
The Abilene State Supported Living Center tells us that they will be bringing in engineers that specialize in historic structures.
