Old Hudson Elementary School comes down quickly

by Laura Freeman, Reporter (E-mail: lfreeman@recordpub.comPhone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3150)

Hudson -- Hopefully residents who wanted a final photograph of the former Hudson Elementary School took it before Feb. 18 because the building is now gone.

Demolition of the 28,164-square-foot school at 34 N. Oviatt St. began Feb. 18, and by the next day all that remained was rubble.Hudson Business Manager Derek Cluse was on hand Feb. 18 to watch the backhoe tear and tumble the walls down. Like many residents, he took a few photos."Standing out there as the building was going down, you could sense some of the neighbors were sad to see an old friend go away, and people who either attended or [their] kids attended the school have a sentimental attachment, and you could sense that," Cluse said. "On the other hand, we feel good the community had an opportunity to weigh in. The [school] district decided to hold onto the property and didn't sell it for development."Cluse said the Bob Bennett Construction Co. of Norton was hired for $111,650 for the demolition, removal of materials and a final grade of the property."The contractor is sorting out material that can be recycled or sold as scrap such as steel, copper and aluminum and will recycle as much of the materials as possible," Cluse said.Once the foundation block and debris are all removed, dirt will be added and leveled, Cluse said. In the spring grass, will be planted."April 23 is our target date [for completion]," Cluse said.Oviatt Street resident Pat Schron took some photos of the demolition."I put all my kids through school here," Schron said of the school, which was built in 1916.Schron said she had mixed feelings about the demolition."I enjoyed having kids next door," Schron said. "I hope it becomes a playground and park."In November, the Hudson School Board rejected three offers -- a park, a 10-home housing development with a park, and a housing development and condominiums -- for the 2.1-acre property.Members unanimously decided to tear down the building and maintain the property as green space until the School Board finds another use for it."At this phase of the project, there are discussions about what type of improvements might be done in the future, but none of it is laid out," Cluse said.In the next month, the school district will have a landscape architect draw up a basic plan to see what could be possible for the location without too much cost to the district, Cluse said."I'm not sure if there will be any desire from neighbors to participate in that process, but we will open it up for them to contribute ideas and potentially, resources," Cluse said.