"It's a matter of life and death," he said. The building was once the site of The Home Company department store. Schwab said the Essex House "was the first electric building and the first building ...

An Essex County Council spokesperson said ... That view has now been replaced with a 52-house construction site with earth-moving equipment and a portable cement site working within yards ...

LANCASTER − Fairfield County Economic Development Director Rick Szabrak jokingly said the former Essex building at 219 N. Columbus St. just needed a fresh coat a paint to give it new life.