Demolition begins on high school

MARTINSVILLE, IL. (WTHI) - On Thursday crews started tearing down the old Martinsville High School building in Illinois to make room for the new school.

Last June's flood swept through the building from the 1920's, leaving behind residual damage, mold and asbestos. An unsafe learning space for the 200 hundred students; school officials decided to rebuild.

Former and current students came by, all trying to remember how the school once looked.

"I couldn't believe that they had that much gone already, but it was a little sad," Class of 2001 student Missy Farrell said.

Demolition will continue through next week.

School officials said the new high school will be built at the same site and hope to have it completed by fall of 2010.

In the meantime, students will continue to go to the temporary school housing provide by FEMA.