Samson Hardware

Samson Hardware, a Fairbanks landmark that had stood on the northern bank of the Chena River since 1904 was demolished Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009, to make way for a road project. To see video of the demolition, click here.

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Workers begin demolishing the landmark Samson Hardware store in downtown Fairbanks on Thursday morning, Oct. 8, 2009.

A view of Samson’s from the south side of the old Chena River bridge. Samson was painted on the wall when the store was still known as Brumbaugh Hamilton and Kellog — after its owners — in the early 1900s. The trio painted Samson on the side of the building in honor of the machinery trademark Samson, representing quality metal work.

The business' along North Turner Street on Sept. 6, 2002. Demolition is underway for all of the buildings but the Big International Bar. The area is being cleared to make way for the new Barnett bridge and the Illinois Street Relocation project.

A photo of Johnny Albright, founder of Samson Hardware, and one of the original light fixtures are displayed in the store Monday, Nov. 10, 2008. The owners of the store, which has been located on the northern bank of the Chena River since the city's founding a century ago, have received an eviction notice to make way for an Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities project.

Samson Hardware, a familiar resource in Fairbanks for the past 104 years, closed its doors Jan. 15 to make room for an Alaska Department of Transportation bridge project. Owners Jennifer Towler and Jeanne Stearns say they will relocate and reopen.

An excavator begins the demolition of the Samson Hardware building in downtown Fairbanks on Oct. 8, 2009.

The Samsons Hardware building, which also housed a barbershop, was demolished Thursday, Oct. 9, in preparation for a road project in downtown Fairbanks.

Warning tape cautions of possible asbestos contamination as an excavator begins tearing down the Samson Hardware building on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009. Workers sprayed the debris with water to keep the dust from the demolition under control.

The Samson Hardware building in downtown Fairbanks is demolished on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009.

People line the sidewalk to watch the demolition of the Samson Hardware building, a Fairbanks landmark.

The Samson Hardware building in downtown Fairbanks is demolished on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009.

The interior wooden beams of the Samson Hardware building in downtown Fairbanks are seen as the structure is demolished on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009.

The Samson Hardware building in downtown Fairbanks is demolished on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009.

The Samson Hardware building in downtown Fairbanks is demolished on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009.

The Samson Hardware building in downtown Fairbanks is demolished on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009.

A worker patches the roof of the former InterDecor building on Phillips Field Road on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009. On Monday the new sign for Samson Hardware was installed ending speculation on where the store was being relocated.

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