The landscape of North Main Street looks different today after crews spent several hours Tuesday demolishing the 138-year-old Sphar building.

The three-story building was one of the oldest structures in downtown Winchester.

Work to prepare for demolition began last week as crews salvaged the sign over the door, the shutters and scales inside, and a truckload of brick.

Residents gathered on North Main and Depot streets for several hours to watch as crews raised the historic structure Tuesday.

The final wall of the old seed warehouse went down shortly after 1 p.m.

A month ago, the Winchester Board of Commissioners accepted the low bid of $101,900 from Grant’s Excavating for demolition and salvage. The contract is for 60 days with a 30-day extension. City Manager Matt Belcher previously told The Sun he anticipates the project will be completed much sooner.

The city purchased the building in 2014 after it fell into disrepair and accrued a number of code violations.

City officials hoped to turn it into a welcome center for the community as well as office space and other uses.

Available funding never seemed to match the cost of the project, despite the city receiving a $1 million grant and Clark County receiving an additional $500,000 grant for the project.

In the last two years, the building deteriorated and became unsafe.

The demolition project will also include leveling the lot so it slopes to the drainage at the rear of the lot.

Plans for the property have not been finalized, and there may be additional fill work to be done later.

The silos will remain and will become a spot for public art, possibly related to the farmers’ market, which meets on Depot Street. The dormer on top of the silos will also be rebuilt.