Fairbury Landmark Demolished
By Gordon Hopkins
The Price Brothers Hardware building at 325 D Street in Fairbury, one of the oldest buildings in Jefferson County, was demolished Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2026.
The Price Brothers Hardware building was the second oldest structure in Jefferson County, built in 1874. It has been vacant since 1997 and was condemned in May of 2021. Until recently, a sign adorned the false front which said, “In 1875, this building saw the Otoe Tribe return from their final buffalo hunt.”
The Historical Preservation Committee met Monday, February 5, 2024, and voted to tear down the building on the grounds of hazardous conditions.
According to a recent memorandum from Fairbury Code Enforcement Officer Daniel Lufkin, “Currently, the building’s roof has begun collapsing inward, creating an imminent safety hazard to the public.”
