A crowd gathered outside the school on Saturday July 23 to bid farewell to the structure. Dan Spalding’s InkFreeNews photo.

By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

SILVER LAKE – The old Silver Lake High School – home of the Ramblers – will soon be demolished, but the memories will live on.

Dozens of people gathered outside the 90-year-old building on Saturday July 23 to reminisce and say goodbye to a building they said was more than just a three-story brick learning center.

The building will soon be demolished and eventually replaced by a community center.

The school was originally built at a cost of approximately $88,000 and opened in 1930.

The last class left the building in 1966. A few years later it served as a primary school. The building closed in 2005.

Two members of the Silver Lake City Council, Hugh Murfin and Jean Weller, helped organize the farewell, and Weller kicked off the event by leading the crowd in signing Rambler’s old fight song.

After that, people chimed in and shared their memories of their favorite teachers, their favorite lunch, the playground, and the building itself.

The school, said one speaker, was a “second home” for many community members.

Jama Owen, the fourth generation of his family to be part of the building, recalled how his grandparents first met in the gymnasium.

“This building was more than just a school. This is how my grandparents started their love story,” she said.

Earl Montel, a 1953 graduate, attended the school for 12 years and told the crowd he remembered feeling sad on graduation day.

“All of these kids were like my siblings and I knew there would be some that we would probably never see again,” Montel said.

Montel wore his letter jacket to the event.

“I thought what better way to commemorate Silver Lake than this,” he said.

Miles Hoffman of the Class of 1960 pointed out that the building relied heavily on stairs and its lack of accessibility was one of the last downfalls of its legacy.

“It’s a shame, but all good things come to an end,” Hoffman said.

Then people had a chance to look at the items inside a keepsake box created in 1930.

These items will eventually be part of an exhibit in the future community center.

Murfin said a committee helps guide plans for the center and said a survey will be used to determine aspects of the building.

Jean Weller (seated) reads documents found in the 90-year-old keepsake box. Dan Spalding’s InkFreeNews photo.

A view of the building at the corner of High and Walnut streets in Silver Lake. Dan Spalding’s InkFreeNews photo.

Anyone wanting school bricks is asked to wait. The bricks will be left outside near the sidewalk. Dan Spalding’s InkFreeNews photo.