As the demolition of Lew Wallace High School wraps up, school and community members gathered Thursday to honor the school's legacy. A "demolition ceremony" was held at the site on 45th Avenue in Gary.
1992 graduate Joslyn Washington-Kelly said while the building is now gone, the school's legacy remains large. "Don't look at is as a loss. Don't focus on the loss. Focus on the love. Focus on the legacy. Focus on the energy. Focus on your stories, which have changed the trajectory of this community," Washington-Kelly said.
Contractors with KLF Enterprises are currently filling in the remaining subbasements and will soon be removing the parking lots, wrapping up the demolition process.
Gary City Council Member Dwight Williams acknowledged the sadness, but said he's devoted to bringing in a new housing development and community center in the future. "We have a lot of problems with a lot of abandoned schools in our area, and let's look forward to tearing down those schools but keeping the memories and bringing in new development. Progress is what Gary needs right now," Williams added.
During the ceremony, school officials opened a time capsule dating back to March 1931, containing various materials related to the building's construction, mementos from teachers and students, and newspapers from that time. Bricks from Lew Wallace High School were handed out to those in attendance.
