By Arie Kirk for The Herald Journal in Logan, Utah
One of the oldest buildings in Preston was demolished July 19.
The century-old, school-district-owned building, which was north of Preston High School, will be replaced by a parking lot, said Brian Mendenhall, Preston School District business manager and clerk.
Preston High School Principal Jeff Lords said that with the space available now people park "all over the place," so the school needs more parking.
"It's kind of a mess out here with the students and even with the school activities," Lords said.
Mendenhall said the property will be filled and leveled immediately. Because of funding, he is unsure when the lot will be paved but he expects it to be completed within the year.
Lords described the demolition as "bittersweet" because Preston is losing a bit of local history.
"You hate to see history like this go," he said.
The building, which measured approximately 10,000 square feet, was built in the early 1900s. Because of age, its condition was getting "pretty bad," Mendenhall said.
The facility was built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as an annex to the Oneida Stake Academy, Mendenhall said. At the time of construction, public schools offered classes through the eighth grade. If kids wanted to continue their education, Mendenhall said they would attend the academy.
David Mitchell, who taught English and German at Preston High School, said the annex housed the academy's vocational classes and the teachers' quarters.
Mitchell said the building was originally three stories. Teachers lived on the third floor, and because they could neither date nor go out while they taught, they would be locked in their living quarters at night, he said. Mitchell said the phrase "old maid schoolteachers" stems from that era.
The district eventually took over the property, Mitchell said. In 1946, he said, the third floor was removed and, using the same brick, a shop was built on the northeast side of the annex.
The building has been used through the years.
George Wilcox, a retired educator, taught auto mechanics in the building for 22 years. As he watched it come down Monday morning, he said he had "a lot of good times, a lot of good memories" there.
"Twenty-two years of my life I spent in there," Wilcox said, later adding, "It's pretty emotional for me."
Until about 10 years ago, the basement of the building was used for bus maintenance, Mendenhall said.
Lords said that during the 2009-10 school year, the building was used for wrestling practice, weight lifting and the maintenance department. Students also met there for agricultural programs, auto mechanics, art, EMT and CNA classes. Lords said that with the exception of maintenance, all of those programs have a home in other high school facilities.
Mendenhall said the district has been preparing the building for demolition for about two weeks. Items of value were removed, along with fire escapes and all the doors. Work in the area will last about one week.
* The demolished annex was part of Oneida Stake Academy, featured in our most recent issue of Yesteryear. To read the story, click on the magazine link (picturing the Mormon Mustang) on the right side of our home page.
