Sunday, April 20, 2014

Behind the Tower

Don't get my wrong. I am just as attached to the Gladewater Middle School as the next alumni. For 3 years, I laced up my Reebok pumps, tight rolled my jeans and attended GMS. I really get it. That beautiful campus was built back in Gladewater's glory days. In the 1930's,  when it was built, work was hard to find and very talented craftsman showed up in this little town looking for work and the outcome of their labor could be seen from miles coming into town. I know. You graduated from that high school 43 years ago. I get it. I really do. But whether we want to admit it or not, time marches on and time takes its toll.
I am hoping that the photographs I share here will help shed light on the declining condition of the school.
This is the corner of the fine arts building where you can see that the foundation is crumbling.
This area is commonly referred to as the "asbestos cave". It is across the hall from my 6th grade daughter's social studies and English classrooms.
These cracks are found just behind the tower, at the main entrance.
This campus was built way before wiring for technology had been thought of.  This is a common sight founf throughout the campus.
These flat roofs are the root of many problems.  Flat roofs do not allow for drainage, standing water will find it's way in, especially in a structure of this age.
Those white flakes are flakes of asbestos caulking.  This is found on all the windows of the main building.
Locker bays throughout the school are pulling away and sinking into the walls.
These walls are freshly painted.  Even after the walls have been cleaned, bleached and painted, the moisture returns and so does the mold.  You can see in this picture the black mold peeking out from under the paint that is peeling. 
This is mold, mildew and moss growing on the building.  It can be found all over the exterior of the building.  If it's growing this much in the sunlight, you can only shudder at the amount that is growing in the dark places of the campus.  If you are wondering why they have not tried to pressure wash this off, they have.  As soon as they started pressure washing it, the brick and mortar started crumbling.
This is black mold growing on the ceiling tiles of the school.
There are not enough science lab stations for even half the class to perform experiments.  This means that our students have to watch many labs virtually, as opposed to hands on learning.
This elevator was installed in the late 80's or early 90's.  The building was built decades before handicap accessibility was a thought.  This was the only solution.  The elevator shaft floods each times it rains and the hose you see is used to siphon water out of the shaft.  
This is yet another asbestos location found on campus.  This particular one is in the gym.
This is the only toilet found in the boys locker room.  There is not a single sink to wash their hands.
This is the closest thing to a shower found in the girl's locker room.  This particular set up is used to fill mop buckets.
Besides health concerns there are many safety concerns due to accessibility to the public.  Our students have to leave campus and travel well over a block to the field house and track.
Yet another of the endless sights of peeling paint caused by moisture in the wall.

More wiring and network challenges.
More asbestos areas.
A common site of standing water.  In a few weeks this stagnant water will be a breeding ground of mosquitoes. 
Cracks and patches can be found in the exterior of the brick buildings all over campus.
More cracks and patches.
Water can be just as damaging as fire.  Here you can see the outcome of decades of fighting and patching areas of high moisture.
Rotting wood due to poor run off and drainage over the many decades.
This is a horrible picture, but that is mold and mildew growing in the carpet.
More flat roofs with standing water and mold.
This is the patio area to the right of the building, where we used to socialize before and after school 25 years ago.  Now it is crumbling and students are asked not to walk on it for fear of caving in.
More water damage, rotting wood and mildew and mold.
The gym was built 20 years after the main building.  This is the ceiling of the gym.
You can see here that the decades of water damage have deteriorated the wall so much the exterior brick is visible.
More mold.
Asbestos tiles that have been painted over.






Although GMS is beautiful from the street, on closer examination you can see this building is in bad condition and something has to be done.  She has lived out her life expectancy.  She is falling apart whether we admit it or not.  I am hopeful and optimistic she can be sold or donated to someone who has the vision and means to let her live on, but as school for our children, I believe it is unsafe, impractical and unhealthy. 

2 comments:

  1. As much as this campus means to me
    I feel it is time to build a new one for our children and grandchildren.

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    Replies
    1. I think many of us feel the exact same way, Mr. Leon! I for one can't wait to cast my vote in the morning!

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