Danbury Public Works officials are working on the next phases of cleaning up and stabilizing Hearthstone Castle.  The debris clean up was the first phase.  The roof and upper floors, over time, collapsed in to the basement and had to be cleared out using cranes and other heavy equipment. 

Department Director Antonio Iadarola says the walls are contaminated with asbestos containing fibers in the coat of finish on the inside of the walls.  An environmental assessment and structural analysis has been conducted. 

After the remediation is complete, Iadarola says they'll have a better idea about how much of the structure can remain and what to do with it.  Cleaning up the site cost $593,000, but additional money would likely needed for any future work.  The structure was constructed in 1897, but has not been occupied since it was acquired by the City in the 1980s.