For decades, it drove the assembly lines that mass-produced tractor parts at the old Allis Chalmers plant in LaPorte, IN and the engineering behind it was viewed as one of a kind.

But the four-story powerhouse and the huge boilers inside that supplied the entire plant with steam power will soon be history.

A ruling in LaPorte Circuit Court has cleared the way for the city to start demolition almost immediately.

The powerhouse, erected in the early 1900s when Allis Chalmers was still owned by the Rumely Co., will be the last of several buildings to be torn down on the 30-acre site recently acquired by the city through court action.

In the late 1990s, the smokestack was taken down first, then, most recently, another former Allis Chalmers structure known as the Erincraft building along Pine Lake Avenue was taken down.

Sadly for LaPorte resident John Kampf, there will be practically nothing left of Allis Chalmers to serve as a reminder of how vital the company was to the area's economy.

"It's good we're getting other stuff, but I think there should be something to remind us of it," said Kampf, an employee for 36 years at Allis Chalmers when the company shut its doors on LaPorte in 1984.

LaPorte Mayor Leigh Morris said the decision clears a path in the race to begin construction of a major retail development on the site by fall.

"It's an awfully important step. This one is a critical one," Morris said.

Morris said he anticipates demolition to begin within two weeks.

Specifically, the hope is to complete demolition along with environmental testing and any cleanup that might be required by the end of September to allow retail construction to begin in October.

"If you look at our work schedule for this project, it has many, many steps in it, but we're on target and I think we can get this thing done," Morris said.

No deals have been secured yet for the retail development to occur, but talks continue, Morris said.

Land acquisition deals must also be reached with seven remaining property owners and, right now, the old north-side fire station has to be relocated for retail to start going up, he said.