BEEVILLE, Texas — Beeville residents are saying goodbye to two aging schools that have been out of service for some time.
To give you an idea of how old the elementary and middle schools are, Kiii News Anchor Rudy Trevino attended them and they were old even back then. With that in mind, the Beeville Independent School District decided this would be the year to tear them down, much to the dismay of former students.
"It's because you know, once a piece of history is gone you know, it's gone forever," said Kimberly Cano, a former student of Thomas Jefferson Junior High School.
"I attended my first eighth-grade dance here," said George Cano Jr., a former student at Thomas Jefferson Junior High School.
The Canos, brother and sister, both attended the junior high and along with pretty much every Beeville native, they have a good deal of memories.
Maddera-Flournoy Elementary School was built back in the early 50s. Both structures have served countless students over the decades and helped create great memories and milestones for each one of them.
"I remember playing outside, playing tops with my friends, you know? In the back," said Daniel Adamez, a former student of Thomas Jefferson Junior High School. "That was like the biggest thing. We waited for recess or after lunch and we'd go outside and play tops."
The district decided the cost of upkeep and maintenance was just too much, not to mention the fact those faciliies just weren't up to par with today's demands.
The first building of the Maddera-Flournoy complex is now rubble. Crews are already working on the main structure.
Demolition on Thomas Jefferson Junior High School is expected to start soon.