TRURO - An east end landmark is almost gone.
The demolition of the original section of Alice Street Elementary School began yesterday around 11 a.m. in the southeast corner of the building.
"It's a shame to see it come down," said John Meekins, who started Grade Primary at the school in 1965 and attended classes there until Grade 6. "I have a lot of memories in that place."
The first room to be demolished happened to be Meekins' Grade 5 classroom.
As the work began yesterday a handful of people were at the site with some sporting cameras to capture the moment.
Four town employees, working at Brunswick and Wood streets, stopped and watched a bit of the construction from the United Church property.
Other passersby stopped for a few moments as bricks and wood crashed to the ground before continuing on their way. One kid waved, as if to say good-bye to the school, as he walked down Wood Street.
"It's sad to see it go, but it's got to, I guess," said Wayne Crowe, who was documenting the activity with his camera.
His wife, both of their children and his wife's mother all attended the school.
"I'm just worried about what's going to go in here," he said.
Crowe would like to see the property become green space and doesn't want to see low-income housing. "The whole neighbourhood is concerned about that," he said.
Some people suggested apartment buildings, a senior's complex while others preferred green space, but suspect that won't happen as the town looks to develop the site and gain tax revenue from the property.
"I'm glad to see it go," said John Ellis, who has lived up the hill on Wood Street for about eight years. "It's full of pigeons and the kids are smashing the windows out of it."
He said it is a "shame" to see the nice looking building demolished, but added "It's a sign of the times."
Fred MacInnes attended the school from 1939 to 1945 while his father, John Knox MacInnes, was the minister at Brunswick Street United Church. The Caribou Island resident was in town earlier this week doing errands when he saw workers preparing for the demolition.
"Most of the teachers lived in the area," he recalled. "It was really a community school."
Standing on the sidewalk at the front of the school he pointed to the parking lot.
"A lot of hockey players started out over there," he said noting an outdoor rink used to be located in the area and was used all winter by kids in the neighbourhood.
People sat on grassy hill behind the school yesterdayand watched the demolition. It was on that same hill many people spent hours sledding on during the winter and was even used late in the school year for a slip and slide for students and staff.
By 1:35 p.m. yesterday the southeast section of the roof came tumbling down and soon after chairs, which had been in the attic for years, followed suit.
Officials expect they will be able to tear down the remaining half of the school today.
jmalloy@trurodaily.com
