NORTH MANCHESTER - Manchester College's historic gymnasium/auditorium, built in 1926, will be demolished due to safety concerns and many years of disuse. Demolition cost is approximately $100,000 and is slated to begin this month.

"There came a time where the college built a new gym," Manchester College Public Relations Director Michael Schug said. "We kind of outgrew that space. As with any organization there's always change."

The new physical education and recreational center was dedicated Oct. 23, 1982, Schug said, "so things just shifted over there for the most part."

In a press release dated Dec. 7, vice president for college advancement, Tim McElwee, said the 74-year-old building is "considered structurally unstable and two engineering and architectural studies indicate that future use is not economically feasible."

"We had a couple studies that indicated it's unstable," Schug said. "It's not a safe place."

The historic building has been used merely as storage space for the past several years, he said.

Although the building will no longer be a part of Manchester College's campus, its memories and historic value will be saved.

Schug said Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s last appearance in Indiana was in this building.

"It was also his last appearance in any college or university in the country," he said. "Of course there were other notable people who spoke there."

Others who have addressed audiences in the historic gymnasium/auditorium include Eleanor Roosevelt, Ralph Nader, Barry Goldwater and Jesse Jackson, among others.

"Our athletic teams used to compete there as well, and students performed musical productions there," Schug said.

In its place, a memorial pavilion will be built, following the demolition project.

"It will pay tribute to the fact that notable speakers have spoke there and also to the athletic teams that played there," Schug said. "There are two keystones on the (old) building - one says gymnasium and one says auditorium - that will be preserved and put on the (memorial pavilion)."

Construction of the pavilion is estimated at approximately $86,000.

"It's part of the capital campaign that we've got going on," Schug said.

The campaign, "The Next Step!" was launched in April 1998 and includes "projects to improve our grounds and public spaces," he said. "This is a major capital campaign where we're raising money through friends and donors of the college."

So far, Schug said, more than $29 million has been raised "with a goal of about $52 million by 2007." [[In-content Ad]]