Town divided over demolition of 100-year-old Burke County building

HILDEBRAN, N.C. — The town was deeply divided over efforts to save the old Hildebran School in Burke County.

The school was built in 1917 and generations of families attended.

(WATCH: Flames engulfed Hildebran School on

February,

2016)

Sue London Thomas graduated from the Hildebran School in 1964. Her mother also went to the school.

Now, she can only watch as the building is being torn down.

More than a year after a devastating fire, demolition has begun on the 100-year-old building.

"Very, very sad,” Thomas said. “And it's sad for the entire community because we worked hard to save the school. But with the fire and everything we lost the battle."

In February 2016, flames swept through the old school house that sits right next to town hall.

At the time, some town leaders wanted to tear down the Hildebran School because of asbestos and other issues, but others hoped to save it.

"It's a shame that the building couldn't be saved,” said town council member Jodi York. “I think they had some viable options that the building could be saved, but it mysteriously burned down."

Fire investigators said there was so much damage that a cause was unable to be determined.

Channel 9 learned that the tower out front, which is part of the town emblem, won't be torn down.

Terry Abernathy, who attended the school in the 1960s, celebrated their 50th anniversary recently in the parking lot.

"We came out the morning of the fire and it was tough to watch because everybody had put so much effort in to saving the building,” Abernathy said.

Channel 9 reporter Dave Faherty talked to some of the workers who said they will try to save the tower.  They estimate it could take months for the entire building to come down.

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