Decay dangled dangerously over the Duffle Bag downtown, held in place by rusted fragments on rotted bricks.

The incident shut down traffic at Eighth and Francis and prompted a fruitless search for the owners of the building.

St Joseph Emergency Management Director Julie Alt says part of the eaves of the building had come loose, and it appeared dangerous.

Ms Alt says the Public Works Department confirmed the dangling damage was dangerous.

“There was a huge piece of eave dangling,” she said “Very dangerous, especially with the gusts of wind.”

The fragment was about twenty feet long, and swayed in the wind just feet above the traffic light at Eighth Street and Francis.

The intersection was closed as officials tried to reach the owners of the building. Ms Alt says they were not able to do so.

“The city took it upon itself that it was enough of a danger that we needed to have it removed.”

They called in two workers for Penn Street Signs, who tied off the wayward fragment, then cut away the last shards still holding it to the building. They then used their aerial lift to lower the frayed and rusted monolith to the ground. (see video)

The city’s Public Works Department will pay Penn Street Signs, and collect that expense from the owners of the building.