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  • Tom Joyce, 73, stands on the roof of the three-story house he is currently working on. Joyce intends to tear down the structure with just his hands. By Kriss Beckham

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July 28, 2010

Tearing it down, one brick at a time

By Kriss Beckham Staff Writer

McALESTER — Have you ever attempted to tear down a structure with just your bare hands? It’s not easy, to some it is downright impossible; but to Tom Joyce, 73, it’s all in a day’s work. Joyce is a local McAlester resident who spends his time unraveling homes and businesses. Condemned infrastructures are his “cup of tea.” Joyce was a roofer for  33 years and now owns Tom Joyce Construction which has been up and running since 1975.

 In McAlester, Joyce has successfully torn down one building and is currently working on his second. His second house is a task. The now-condemned house at 208 W. Washington Ave. is a three story mammoth and was reportedly a former halfway house. Encompassing a 20-ft. roof and 10 ft. walls this structure is a delicate duty. Joyce intends to dismantle the entire structure with just his bare hands and a few minor hand tools. For any individual this is a lot to ask.

Joyce begins demolition every morning at 6 a.m. and concludes his work daily at 5 p.m. This particular house, he estimates, will take him about a month to complete.

When asked how he gets the nerve to do such a whopping project his response was, “Go for the gusto.” Joyce’s intention to bare-handedly tear down such buildings is to salvage it. He will take everything, from the fixtures to the fireplace, and salvage what he can. “It doesn’t take bravery,” he said, “Just the will-power to do it.”

Joyce has worked in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Pawnee, Okmulgee, Barttlesville and more an will continue to work on homes and buildings.

Contact Kriss Beckham at kbeckham@mcalesternews.com.

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On Thursdaythe Good Samaritan Outreach Shelter for Men was featured in a documentary by the First United Methodist Church in McAlester. Pictured from left is Thursday. Pictured from left is Chris Symes associate pastor of the First Methodist Church, Stephen LeFlore shelter director and Bill Derichsweiler shelter treasurer. --

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