The former Hartley Gove Sons thermometer plant in Brookhaven sits empty and unused at 1150 North First St.

Hartley Gove Thermometer Company was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1889 by Hartley Gove, and manufactures glass red-liquid-filled thermometer tubes. A branch was moved to downtown Brookhaven in 1957 and operated by Ed Gove Jr., nephew of Hartley.

Gove signed a 99-year lease with the city in 1966, moving to the North First Street location. With the city’s approval, Gove sublet the building in 2017 for use by McCall Creek Auctions.

In more recent years, the property has not been used.

City Board attorney Bobby Moak told aldermen this week that the city can cancel the lease — with six months’ notice — because no manufacturing is taking place at the facility, and the company no longer employs anyone locally. The property could then be returned to the city for its use.

The Board voted 7-0 to move ahead with the notice of cancellation.