All that really remained were the memories

    Last week’s fire at the old G.W. Carver Elementary School was a tragedy. That school holds lots of good memories for former students, spanning many generations here in Edna.
    Since the school was built in 1954, thousands of children have sat in those classrooms and learned their ABC’s, multiplication tables, how to write their name, and read. Friendships that lasted a lifetime were forged on the playgrounds. Physical education teachers taught sportsmanship and kickball, music teachers instilled the love of singing, and teachers inspired many to be more than they ever thought they could be.
    If those walls could talk, oh the stories they could tell. I had three children get their first education at G.W. Carver Elementary. I was a substitute teacher there as well. I truly believe the foundation for a love of learning begins during the early school years and the teachers that taught there were second to none.
    Obviously, this was only during the 90’s, so there are many years before, and some after, that I can’t really attest to. But after reading numerous comments on Facebook after the fire, there are former students of all ages –and teachers – who have fond memories of their years at G.W. Carver Elementary.
    So it is sad when those memories are destroyed by a fire. But were they?
    Recently we have published several articles about the condition of the former school campus. It had suffered from vandalism and neglect, both side effects of being vacant. Most windows in the buildings have been broken out and the unlocked classrooms torn up and scattered with litter. The owners of the building and land were at their wits end trying to figure out a way to stop the destruction.
    So did Thursday’s fire really come as a surprise to anyone? After all, with all that had been done to the building to that point, and the evidence of activities that were taking place there, it was just a precursor to tragedy.
    The State Fire Marshal is conducting an investigation as to the origin of the fire. After all, there was no electric service to the building. A fire doesn’t just start itself. There is speculation in the community as to what or who might have started it, but until the investigation is concluded it is all just that – speculation. My hope is that is was just an unfortunate accident, perhaps started by a thoughtlessly thrown cigarette butt. I can imagine there is someone out there who knows they are responsible and they are probably feeling really bad about all of it. At least I hope so. But an accident is an accident and can be excused. If it were set intentionally, that is another story.
    But back to the issue. This building, or group of buildings that make up G.W. Carver Elementary School, was no longer the school the memories are based on. It was an empty building that was dying a slow, disrespectful death. A few activities took place there during the year, most notably the annual Juneteenth celebration. But weekends and evenings often saw impromptu basketball games and other activities that showed it still had a purpose.
    The City of Edna, along with the late councilman Lorrian Jones, spent countless hours and grant money to construct a beautiful children’s park across from the G.W. Carver school. The view of the deteriorating building across the street is a contradiction to the well-maintained and often-used park. And after the fire, is possibly a dangerous structure to be in such close proximity to the place where children play.
    The owners of the building, the G.W. Carver Community Center Committee, are facing a dilemma. With back taxes owed and no clear way to pay them, the committee is struggling to save the center. And the solution should be found by more than just a few people. The community – all of the Edna community – needs to decide if this building is worth saving. Emotion and memories must be taken out of the equation, because it is no longer the elementary school they attended. If no clear purpose can be found, and the finances to achieve that purpose, the rest of the buildings on the campus will die slow painful deaths as well.
    This conversation must take place soon, before another tragedy strikes.
    Chris Lundstrom can be reached at clundstrom@jacksonconews.com.