As mentioned in several replies, WCHS was finally shuttered in the 1990-1 timeframe. The main cause was water. Much of the downtown and surrounding community around old Huntsville is undermined by natural springs and underground streams. By the time the Councill Community Center had closed, the building had been settling for over 60 years. Water was seeping into the foundation and the walls causing structural and electrical damage. The roof was last replaced in the 1970’s and given the warm, humid southern environment, it could only last so long.
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Failure was just a matter of time
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As we went deeper into one wing of the building, the city workers in my escort freely noted where the ceiling was no longer stable and that I entered at my own risk
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Notice the spotlights are still intact..
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Ironically this collapse was using by the homeless and metals thieves to gain access
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Not everyone survived the collapse
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Moving into the service areas, the former lunchroom had survived mostly
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As a community center, the room was turned into an arts and crafts area
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Newpaper dated 1991
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The cake is a lie
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School reunion mugs
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Empty storage
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Band Room
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Data?
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Windows 95
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Windows to the Past
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Going deeper into one section of the complex, I was surprised to see ceiling above the ceiling
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These areas had originally been designed as a multi-purpose area but when the High School was turned into a community center, high ceilings increased the heating cost and echoed horribly. Solution: acoustic tiles hung from the original ceiling. No need to pull down the old lighting fixtures.
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Circling back to head towards the old gymnasium was an area which had been a day care. What would Pooh say about the site now?.. ‘oh bother’
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Timeless
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Moving towards the gym I noticed this 1950’s era emergency light on the floor
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Broken glory
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Central courtyard and irises coming up
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School colors in the former gym office
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As mentioned in a previous comment, the homeless are resourceful and willing to endure much to stay out of the weather. This was one of many sleeping bags we saw carefully placed in the building.
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The main gymnasium
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Hoops
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Gym door and pulley
Part 3 to follow tomorrow