Historic Central School Building in Baker City set to be demolished
By Joe Hathaway on Monday, July 1st, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY – An end of an era for the Baker community, as the Baker School District is set to begin the demolition of the historic Central School Building, following a devastating fire in May that gutted the 108-year-old structure.
Interim Superintendent Betty Palmer announced the start of the demolition after extensive consultations with various agencies and contractors.
The fire, which started around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 22, led to a day-long battle by local firefighters. The blaze resulted in the collapse of the building’s roof and severe interior damage, rendering the building unsafe. Investigations by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and Oregon State Police are ongoing, with officials yet to determine whether the fire was caused by arson or an accident.
The Central School Building, constructed in 1916 by Ellis F. Lawrence, the founder of the School of Architecture at the University of Oregon, has been vacant since 2009. It previously housed Baker High School from 1917 to 1952 and Baker Middle School from 1953 to 2009. The building is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and is listed as one of Oregon’s “most endangered places” by the Baker Technical Institute (BTI).
Due to the extensive damage and safety concerns, demolition has been deemed necessary. “Reports from the Deputy State Fire Marshal and City Building Inspector have indicated that the building is highly unsafe in its current state and most likely needs to come down sooner than later,” Palmer said.
The district has selected Alpine Abatement, a contractor based in Redmond, Oregon, to handle the demolition and abatement process. Work is scheduled to commence after the July 4th weekend and is expected to last approximately seven weeks. The goal is to clear the area and restore safe access to the surrounding neighborhood.
Palmer said she’s optimistic about the abatement process, which could result in significant time and cost savings. Despite the damage, there is hope that some of the stone from the building’s walls can be salvaged for memorial purposes. “Due to the heat and contaminants from the fire, the stone is no longer suitable for building; but we are hopeful that the on-site abatement process identified will result in at least some of the stone being salvaged for memorial purposes,” Palmer said. The district is considering ways to handle community inquiries about repurposing the stones.
Palmer added that the school district is committed to honoring the historic site’s legacy while prioritizing community safety. “Our biggest concern has been the safety of our community, and we are so thankful for all the work BTI has done to facilitate the best decisions possible for this well-loved historic site,” Palmer added. For further updates, please contact the Baker School District or visit their website.
