HAZLETON – Rep. Dane Watro (R-116) and Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) today announced demolition has begun on the former St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in downtown Hazleton.
The church, which closed in 2004, is being demolished after a devastating fire heavily damaged the vacant building in early 2025. The demolition is being funded by two state grants totaling $400,000 secured by Argall and Watro.
“While it’s never easy to say goodbye to a building that was part of Hazleton’s history for so many years, public safety must come first,” said Watro. “These grants will allow the damaged structure to be removed responsibly, preserve important pieces of its history and clear the way for new opportunities at the site.”
“I never want to see a historic local building demolished, but after last year’s destruction, the Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress had no choice but to remove this unsafe structure,” said Argall. “This will eliminate a significant safety hazard and open up several more options to help move downtown Hazleton forward.”
Archives and other artifacts from the church will be removed and preserved by the Hazleton Museum and other organizations to ensure its history is not lost.