The demolition of the ruins of Via Costituente in Carbonia is almost complete and the crumbling building that once made an ugly display at one of the entrances to the city will soon be just a faded memory.
Inside, some historic machinery dating back to almost a century ago was "poorly" preserved, and from today it will be hosted in the Grande Miniera di Serbariu : «The idea of saving that machinery dates back to the initial phases of the Museo del Carbone», says the manager Mauro Villani. «After more than 15 years, we have managed to save an important piece of the city's history».
The machinery is now stored in a temporary space, awaiting the end of the work to restore the Great Serbariu Mine: "As soon as the construction site is finished, we will take possession of the restored spaces," Villani continues. "We will work together with the administration to find them a suitable permanent location that can enhance them to the fullest."
Several local history enthusiasts had also urged the rescue: "The circular band saw dates back to the early twentieth century, as did other machinery," says Roberto Pusceddu, an industrial archaeology enthusiast. " It would have been a real shame to lose them forever . Many of us wondered what would happen to those machines that produced so many window frames for the homes of Carbonia from its foundation until the 1960s."
At the beginning of the year, the municipal administration had allocated 45,000 euros for the reclamation and demolition of the dilapidated building, definitively solving the serious problem of urban decorum that had persisted for decades: "With the reclamation of the area, a cycle that had lasted years is closed", says the mayor of Carbonia Pietro Morittu. " Managing to solve the long-standing problem of the former carpentry shop and at the same time saving a historical asset that from today will be the heritage of the city is a source of pride for us ".
