Peter Chant started at Algoma Steel back in 1952 as a labourer, cleaning up around blast furnaces #3 and #4.
Today he was at the locks, watching those very furnaces come down.
Chant said that the blast furnace demolition today was so quick he barely had time to get the camera up.
He said the view of the demolition wasn't very good because the blast furnaces were behind other buildings but that his location at the locks would likely be the best view outstide the actual plant.
Chant remembered working up through the ranks to the position of commanding operator when blast furnace #7 was commissioned.
He was the lucky fellow who got to push the button and start up the furnace in 1972.
"Everyone was there waiting for me to push the button," said Chant. "They had a big ceremony and everything."
"So I pushed the button and nothing happened," Chant said. "It was just a little glitch and they had it fixed in a minute or two, though."
To see additional photos taken by SooToday.com of blast furnaces #3 and #4 coming down, please click on the photo gallery below.