The corner of Seventh Street and Delaware Avenue in Palmerton looked markedly different in the second half of 2022.

A field house, which stood for decades at the Palmerton Area School District-owned property, was torn down in August following damage from a vehicle crash in May 2021.

Francis Botek, 81, of Lehighton, was traveling east on Delaware and wanted to make a U-turn to go west, but according to police, his gas pedal became stuck. The vehicle traveled across Delaware Avenue into the field house.

Environmental Restoration Inc. submitted the lowest bid, $21,190, to tear down the building, which was completed over the course of several days. Two other companies submitted bids, Bruce George Paving and Excavating at $25,112.50 and Rizz Demolition LLC at $29,500.

“The power was finally disconnected in the field house on July 11 so we were able to move forward,” Joe Faenza, Palmerton’s facilities director, said. “It took seven weeks from the date of our request to get the power shut down.”

Before it was damaged, the field house was primarily used by the Palmerton Booster Club for equipment storage.

Palmerton’s board approved the purchase of a 24-by-28-foot two-car garage and a 10-by-12-foot mini-barn from Kramer Sheds as a replacement at the Seventh Street field at a total cost of $20,303.