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WEATHERSFIELD – Through the front windows of the old Mineral Ridge High School off state Route 46, large yellow excavators could be seen breaking walls. Beyond the front facade, the rest of the building was reduced to piles of brick and the gymnasium to a skeleton of metal beams.
Former school students and teachers stopped by to pay their respects Wednesday afternoon as the demolition continued.
“They always said nothing would take this building down. Well I guess they’re laughing at that now,” Dianne Seifert said.
She graduated from the school in 1973 and returned in 1980 to teach there until just two years ago.
“It holds a lot of history for our family,” she said, cradling one of the building’s old white bricks. Her mother used to drive buses here and her grandfather was a teacher here as well.
The building was constructed in 1924 and housed various grades as needed. Most recently, it served as a middle school, since the current Mineral Ridge High School opened in 1976.
“It’s hard to watch because there’s a lot of memories there. I’m still a sub so I’ve seen the new building, so I know it’s good for the kids,” Seifert said.
Seifert helped with the levy committee to raise money for a new school. In March 2012, the district passed a 6.9-mill bond issue to generate $551,235 a year to pay the district’s $9.6 million share of the $25.4 million demolition, renovation and new building project. The remaining $17.8 million is paid for by an Ohio Schools Facilities Commission grant.
An additional 0.5-mill levy was approved for maintenance of the construction for 30 years, which will generate $79,954 a year.
“It’s a great day and a sad day. There is a lot of history to embrace, but we are also looking forward to the future,” Superintendent Damon Dohar said.
Dohar said the old building was a hodgepodge of additions. The new facilities – a refurbished high school and an almost entirely rebuilt K-6 school – are updated with new technology.
“Everything is new, so it all works really well. The system is much more efficient,” he said. “That’s something we pride ourselves on – being ready and constantly moving forward.”
Dave Williams, 65, of Canfield, a 1967 graduate, said the school was known for its football team during his attendance.
“The memories I have were of the football field being built during my junior year, especially since it was built by the community,” he said. “We used to have to play at McDonald’s field, so it was nice to have our home games on her own field.”
William said he just stopped to say farewell.
“To think of the classrooms and the students and all the teachers that were there ” he said. He watched as the entrance he used to go through was knocked down by an excavator.
Dohar said the demolition will carry on for a few more days. The new purpose for the site has yet to be determined, though the bus garage and a storage facility will remain in use.
The school bell that has been on site since the late 1920s will be salvaged for later use.