Another Sault Ste. Marie landmark bites the dust (5 photos, video)

Demolition began on the Northern Breweries building on Bay Street early this afternoon.

Crews began by tearing off the metal siding that has covered the brick building for so many years.

This is the first phase of the demolition, with only the offices affected by last winter's fire  being demolished.

Behind that siding were windows that have been covered up for decades and one worker was seen removing previously hidden nameplates for parking spaces that have long been vacant.

There appeared to be nests in some areas between the planks that secured the siding but they, too, have likely long been abandoned.

A small crowd of people watched as the siding was removed and many curious onlookers snapped photographs as they passed by.

Retiree Gloria Childs stopped to pay her respects to a building that has been downtown for all of her life.

"It's just part of Sault Ste. Marie," she exclaimed over the sounds of the heavy machinery adding, “it has been an eyesore for a long time.”

Crews hope to be finished and have the area cleared by later this week.

The demolition for the rest of the building, including the iconic “Soo Falls” smokestack, has not yet been scheduled.