The site underwent signifigant changes starting in late 2014. It was determined that remediation of pollution by the original owners of the site would require many of the buildings to be removed. The process of coal gasification created byproducts that were suspected to still be in now leaking underground tanks on the property. I visited the property just prior to the start of the demolition and was able to obtain access to a few of the buildings at that time. I also was there during part of the remediation process. While I don't know for sure what's left, I'm pretty sure the brick buildings are gone, most likely leaving only the former chapel and cinder block building on the west end of the property still standing. My understanding is that everything needed to be removed including all soil down to depths of as much as 20 feet in the most severely affected areas with a goal of making the land environmentally acceptable for future residential use. Access was restricted due to the presence of asbestos in the structures as well.

The information contained here was taken from a variety of sources including George Swank's "Galvaland," "The Galva News," conversations with family members, and interviews with former employees. Publications and photos not owned by me and reprinted here have been used with permission, and their use here does not indicate in any way their owner's have given up the right to restrict their use elsewhere.

Thank you to Doug Boock of The Galva News for permission to use quotes from the paper. Thanks as well to the family members who have contributed to my collection over the years - my grandparents Ted and Lillian Briegel, my aunt Alice Briegel, my brother Russ, and my parents Paul and Jean Hardy. And to former employees Clarence and Janis Schultz and Keith Carter for their kind words and stories ... as well as some very unique additions to my collection ... thank you all. The Briegels were blessed by having such good and loyal people work for them. It's wonderful to know you. A special thank you goes out to Sally and Harlan Nelson of the Galva Historical Society for their invaluable assistance in obtaining much of the materials used for research, acquiring some of the items from the old company, and introducing me to people with company stories to tell. Without them, this site would have been impossible. Those with interest in the history of the community should make it a point to visit the society's museum.

If you have comments or questions, I'd enjoy talking with you. My collection of Briegel items is fairly large, but I'm always looking for more things if you have something you don't want any more or might be willing to let me include on the web site. My email address is steve@briegelmethodtool.info .