BRUNSWICK, Ohio – Pearl Road looked like there was going to be a parade at about 8 a.m. on May 27. It wasn’t something going by that crowds of people were waiting for; it was the first “bite” taken from the south end of Visintainer Middle School by the jaws on the end of the arm of a huge excavator.
This was the first of the two oldest school buildings scheduled to be demolished with the building of a new, modern middle school on the site of the Visintainer and Edwards buildings. The original section of Edwards dates to 1921 and Visintainer in 1949.
There were actually three excavators working together during the first three days of the demolition by Great Lakes Demolition and it was a little bit like watching them dance as they maneuvered to raze the building starting with the front portion of the building at the south end, moving to the large 3-story middle and on to the north end. Most people expressed amazement at how the huge machines delicately picked up small pieces of metal and placed them into piles of recyclable materials.
Among those watching were many teachers and other staff members who worked at Visintainer as well as current and former students and their parents and grandparents – many of whom also grew up in the community.
Brian Lemmer, a teacher at Hickory Ridge Elementary School, was there with his three daughters Aden and Harper, 7 and Charlotte 4. All of them are excited to be middle schoolers at the new, modern building looming just behind Visintainer. This school had to be razed first as will be the parking lot and entrance area to the new middle school complex.
Three youngsters standing at the fence surrounding the site, were taking photos and videos of the work. Anderson and Bailey Mitchell, 12, were sixth-grade students at Visintainer and Reece Mitchell, 10, is looking forward to her middle school journey in the new building. Bailey said, “It’s kind of cool, but kind of sad.”
Dennis Jolly is a 1967 graduate of Brunswick High. He and his wife, Geri, who graduated from the high school but didn’t attend Visintainer, were there bright and early to watch the historic occasion.
Lisa Fortuna, who worked at Visintainer, came back several times during the first and second days and spotted things with which she was familiar as they were removed.
“Oh my gosh,” she exclaimed, “there are lockers just hanging there!” She pointed up as a line of blue lockers showed up high on the debris. Just a little later, she added, “There goes the office!”
Some students looking forward to moving into the new building will have to wait as the COVID-19 outbreak slowed construction to the point where the entire building won’t be ready this fall. The schools hope to have sixth graders attend the new building, as that “pod” is nearing completion. Edwards and Willetts school buildings will then likely remain open if students are coming back in the fall depending on health concerns, of course.
Many of the artifacts from both the razed buildings will become part of the collection in a new building at the Brunswick Area Historical Society, 4613 Laurel Road. The organization is hoping to sell bricks from both Visintainer and Edwards with certificates of authenticity to those who want them, but the district Business Manager Salvatore Grida reported that the mortar is proving to be very strong making it difficult to separate the bricks. Those interested in a brick can check at the Brunswick Farmers Markets which run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting June 14.
Superintendent Michael Mayell estimated the Visintainer demolition would take about a week.
The history of the school and a story about Louis J. Visintainer, for whom the school was named, can be found at bcsoh.org/domain/238.
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May 31, 2020 at 08:01PM
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Demolition of Visintainer Middle School should be complete this week - cleveland.com
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