Demolition industry veteran Ted Laukemann Jr., of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, passed away on February 20, 2015, at the age of 79. He originally trained as a mason and eventually started several businesses. In particular, he worked as a demolition contractor as the owner of L&W Demolition Co. Inc. for 40-plus years.
His obituary notes his demolition work forever changed the cityscape of Harrisburg in the 1970s to 1990s, clearing the way for newer buildings. He demolished several noteworthy buildings in the area, including the Camp Curtin School, the Telegraph Building, the Penn Central Freight Terminal, Pomeroy's Department Store, the Peanut House, the Warner and Senate Hotels, the Senate Theater, Goldsmith's, Woolworth's, among many other structures. Buildings that have been constructed in their places include the Hilton Hotel, Market Square Plaza, Penn National Insurance Building, the City Government Center, the Whitaker Center and Harrisburg University.
Laukemann owned a landfill in Dillsburg for 20 years. When it closed, he designed and constructed a machine that recycled nearly 100 percent of the debris from each building he demolished. His machine, which was featured in Popular Science magazine, diverted thousands of tons of material from the landfill and transformed the debris into useful products, such as mulch and foundation material.
Laukemann acquired an abandoned quarry in Harrisburg that became the first permitted reclamation project of its kind in Pennsylvania. He also was the owner of a trucking business and apartment buildings in Dillsburg, and built or renovated many houses, including several for his family.
He is survived by several children, grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, siblings, nieces and nephews.
His obituary notes his demolition work forever changed the cityscape of Harrisburg in the 1970s to 1990s, clearing the way for newer buildings. He demolished several noteworthy buildings in the area, including the Camp Curtin School, the Telegraph Building, the Penn Central Freight Terminal, Pomeroy's Department Store, the Peanut House, the Warner and Senate Hotels, the Senate Theater, Goldsmith's, Woolworth's, among many other structures. Buildings that have been constructed in their places include the Hilton Hotel, Market Square Plaza, Penn National Insurance Building, the City Government Center, the Whitaker Center and Harrisburg University.
Laukemann owned a landfill in Dillsburg for 20 years. When it closed, he designed and constructed a machine that recycled nearly 100 percent of the debris from each building he demolished. His machine, which was featured in Popular Science magazine, diverted thousands of tons of material from the landfill and transformed the debris into useful products, such as mulch and foundation material.
Laukemann acquired an abandoned quarry in Harrisburg that became the first permitted reclamation project of its kind in Pennsylvania. He also was the owner of a trucking business and apartment buildings in Dillsburg, and built or renovated many houses, including several for his family.
He is survived by several children, grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, siblings, nieces and nephews.