EAST LANSING, Mich. — After gathering input from the Michigan State University community, the decision has been made to demolish the old “MSC” smokestack, but make an effort to save the white bricks that form the MSC letters.
The university sought input on the future of the smokestack, which was built in 1948 but had not been used since 1975. More than 1,300 people responded to the call, with the majority of respondents calling for demolition while saving the bricks.
Three options were on the table: tearing down the stack, tearing it down but saving the “MSC” bricks, or repairing the structure.
MSC stands for Michigan State College, which was the name of the university from 1925 to 1955.
While it is not yet clear how best to commemorate the smokestack, the university will salvage as many of the white bricks as possible and store them until an appropriate commemoration opportunity presents itself.
Recent inspections found that within the top 35 feet of the stack all of the mortar joints had deteriorated. Nearly half of the mortar joints in the top 70 feet were deteriorated. A wire cage is helping keep the loose bricks at the top in place. In addition, fencing has been placed 150 feet out around the smokestack as a safety precaution.
The 230-foot-high smokestack was erected in 1948 and is part of the old Shaw Lane Power Plant, which has not been in operation since 1975 when it could no longer handle the energy load necessary for the expanding campus.
At that time the T. B. Simon Power Plant, located on the south side of campus, became MSU’s chief power provider.
More information is available at www.msu.edu/mscsmokestack.
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