Watch: 320-foot furnace at historic Baltimore steel plant imploded

SPARROWS POINT, M.D. -- One of the largest industrial structures on the East Coast was imploded Wednesday afternoon to make room for new development.

The 320-ft tall "L" furnace at the old Bethlehem Steel plant came down in just a matter of second, just as planned.

"When it was built in 1978 it was the biggest furnace of its type in the Western Hemisphere," Sparrows Point Terminal spokesperson Steve Kearney told CBS News.

Tens of thousands of men and women worked at the steel mill, supporting their families for generations, according to Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz.

"It was the major source of employment for a big part of that region," Kearney said. "At one point, more than 30,000 people worked there and a lot of steel production came from that site."

While the steel mill brought economic prosperity to the state, Maryland reached an agreement with the site's new owner last fall to clean up contamination and decades worth of industrial pollution at the property.

Two demolition companies used nearly 100 explosive charges in the demolition.

Once it is cleared, the property will be used as a hub for industrial maritime transportation, manufacturing, distribution and logistics, Kearney said.