LOCKESBURG – The oldest building on the old Lockesburg High School campus was taken down in a controlled burn by the Lockesburg Volunteer Fire Department last week.
The old building was built circa 1929 and served the Lockesburg School district as an elementary, music, and ISS facility before the campus was closed following the 2010 school year. UA Cossatot now owns the old Lockesburg High School property and plans to keep renovating the grounds to prepare for college and workforce classes to be held there.
According to UA Cossatot Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole, there are two older buildings that are suitable for use. “In our slow but steady renovation, we have found that the old elementary and music building was a public danger and could not be rehabilitated, so we partnered with the Lockesburg Fire Department in a controlled burn to safely take the structure down.”
Extensive mold and termite damage had rendered the building useless. The other building that has been razed on the grounds is the old bus shop.
Renovating and preparing the old Lockesburg High School campus is taking more time than originally thought, according to Cole.
“We are taking a bit more time in the renovation process but we want to ensure the infrastructure is suitable before working on the cosmetics of the site. For public safety reasons, we have also posted no trespassing signs on the property,” he said.
UA Cossatot has a target of January 2016 to begin offering classes at Lockesburg.
