The Athens County Historical Society and Museum received an anonymous tip via email stating that Ohio University’s plans to tear down Ridges Building 26 are “imminent.”
The email claimed that the schedule to tear down Building 26, otherwise known as the TB Ward or Beacon School, has been moved up, and the expenditure for the project is “massive.” The email sender asked to remain anonymous because of his/her connection with OU.
OU spokeswoman Katie Quaranta has confirmed the demolition date is scheduled to take place this March as part of the university’s capital request to the state.
The Historical Society has fought OU for other options to preserve the historical building. The Society claims that they had found a possible buyer or renter of the building, yet the university ignored them.
The Historical Society urges OU to consider the preservation of the building for the taxpayers who are funding the university.
University leadership met with Historical Society members and weighed all options for the building, before finalizing the decision to go forward with the demolition, Quaranta said.
dk123111@ohiou.edu
