Demolition Set To Begin At Ernest Ward Middle

June 9, 2013

Visible progress toward the construction of a new Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill could come as early as this week.

A few portable buildings will be relocated and the “Ag Building” will be demolished in the coming days  to be replaced by temporary portable buildings during the construction process.  The new school is expected to open in the fall of 2016.

Once the new campus is complete, the current administration building is slated to become a maintenance facility, while the current gymnasium and football stadium will remain. The remainder of the current main school building will be demolished.

The $16.5 million, 115,202 square foot building is being designed by Sam Marshall Architects of Pensacola, while Greenhut Construction Company of Pensacola will provide “Construction Management at Risk Services” — the overall planning, coordination and control of the project from beginning to completion.

Pictured: The “Ag Building” at Ernest Ward Middle School could  be demolished as early as this week as progress is made toward a new $16.5 million campus. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

17 Responses to “Demolition Set To Begin At Ernest Ward Middle”

  1. Robert Gordon McGhee on June 24th, 2013 7:06 pm

    I was a graduate in the class of 1960. Lots of fond memories for my 12 years attending. My days in the Ag building and the FFA with Mr. George Stone and Mr. Glynn Key will always be remembered. Mr. Stone may have been the Govenor of Fla. if it had not been for that accident in Pensacola that took his life. My first job that I had was during my Senior year and after basketball season was over I started working after lunch for Mr. Bryan at his grocery school. I worked their till Oct of 1960, when I joined the Air Force. I had 5 brothers and 1 sister whom also completed 12 years.

  2. greg peterson on June 15th, 2013 12:40 pm

    I have some great memories there I was president of the 87 FFA class when Glenn Key retired and Ken Mehurg came in.

  3. redneck on June 13th, 2013 10:00 pm

    they should not pay 16.5 million, on a new school it does not need it..

  4. robert f on June 13th, 2013 9:03 am

    Some good memories have come from EWHS , More often than none i think of the friday night games. And the great days of Mr keys .. sad really …..

  5. Nikki on June 11th, 2013 5:38 pm

    I too am sad to see it go. Definately alot of good memories from the old Ag building and the rest of the school. I agree with Julie about selling the bricks, would be a great fund raiser. Maybe they will let everyone go back through one last time. Ernest Ward, Class of 1992

  6. Bob Hudsun on June 11th, 2013 3:51 pm

    Yep just went by and got some pictures, they are starting demo, kinda sad , lot of good times in that building. 1-12, class of 75.

  7. Nora (Parker) Eden on June 10th, 2013 5:50 pm

    1950 is the year I graduated and it’s sad to see the building go.
    I lived way out in the country from the school and there were no grocery stores in our community.
    Back then, we were not allowed to leave the school ground to go to the grocery store at the cross road on our lunch hour so every once in a while we were allowed to go to the ag building and get a Coke out of their machine.
    Those Cokes really did taste good in that building. We had to stay there and drink it in order to leave our empty bottle.
    It’s one of the fond memories I have of Ernest Ward School.

  8. R Rowell on June 10th, 2013 2:34 pm

    Not many people these days can that they attended the same school K-12. I did at Ernest Ward High School. My graduating class in 1988 had 52 students, I believe 48 of us walked the stage in the Blue gym to accept our diplomas if memory serves me right. The point I’m attempting to make is the memories we have of the old school will last for a lifetime. I was 5 years old when I walked down that long hall with the towering ceiling. I can still remember the vent windows that were visable in each classroom. I grew up in that school, but remember the people I went to class with more than the actuall building. Once the school is rebuilt, our kids and grandchildren will make some of the same memories but with a different atmosphere.

  9. Julie on June 10th, 2013 12:11 pm

    Should sell the bricks as a fundraiser.

  10. Rhonda on June 10th, 2013 10:53 am

    So sad. Very fond memories of EWHS. Loved the Friday night footbal games! I started 1st grade there with Ms Tanner. I guess progress is good but memories are fonder.

  11. Wendy Wilson Pettis on June 10th, 2013 8:33 am

    It certainly is bittersweet to see it torn down. Many fond memories and friendships formed there. I am excited for Mrs. Perry, the administration, and all of the students that will benefit from the new building.

  12. Ken Meharg on June 10th, 2013 1:16 am

    I will certainly hate to see the old Ag. building torn down, a lot of fond memories under that roof. After 33 years of teaching Ag. Education, I can honestly say that the years I spent at Ernest Ward were the highlight of my teaching career. I had the privilege to be around some of the best students, and people, that any ag teacher could ever ask for and it is a joy to look at the former students and what they have achieved since graduation; firemen, armed forces, educators, agricultural professions, law enforcement and many other careers . . . . . . I can only hope that we, as teachers, may have played a small part in preparing these outstanding individuals!!!!!

  13. Ronda on June 9th, 2013 10:19 pm

    Lots of fun in that ag building , hate to see it go but happy for the new generation that gets to enjoy the new school .

  14. bmr on June 9th, 2013 7:38 pm

    I graduated for there in 86.would love to have the used bricks

  15. Gonna miss it! on June 9th, 2013 2:32 pm

    Went to school there and remember Mr. Maherg teaching Ag in this building….Loved Ag and Welding…..

  16. Jason on June 9th, 2013 12:02 pm

    I went to EWHS and have made several phone calls to walk the old campus agin before the destruction. So far i’ve been promised a return phone call to say if /or when i can do so. I am still waiting. Guess i’ll have to be satisfied with driving by and looking.

  17. Pat on June 9th, 2013 11:27 am

    Sad to see our school go……..I llved very close to the school and went there from 1st grade and graduated from there in 1970…….sooo many memories were made there…….it became a landmark…….SAD

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News