LAKE ARIEL -- The last few years have been so harsh on it, that from the front you might not know anything is going on at the former Lake Consolidated School.
But in the back, crews have been busy demolishing the old school. It was Lake Ariel's community school since the 1930's. Most recently an elementary school in the Western Wayne School District.
"My father, all his brothers and sisters and even his father, they all went there, so it's sad to see it go," said Joseph Clauss of Lake Ariel.
Joseph Clauss one of the last in a long line of family who attended Lake Consolidated School. It's demolition of course came up when the Clauss family stopped for breakfast just down the street.
"We drove past, and it's definitely emotional. We've all played kickball there during recess, and just a lot of great memories," added Veronica Clauss.
"I'm really sad to see it go, it's just kind of an iconic building. There's not a lot of buildings in Lake Ariel, so, it's one of the oldest ones that we've had so it's sad to see it go," said Grace Anne Heater, formerly of Lake Ariel.
Lake Township bought the school building last year. It's been shuttered for at least six years.
Township supervisors told Newswatch 16 the building has a lot of structural problems. The priority is getting it down. Demolition is expected to be complete by the end of January.
"It was the center of the community. And now we hope that something else can take its place that will also be the center of the community," said Grace Clauss.
As for what's next, Lake Township supervisors said they're not entirely sure yet. But, in the long term, they told Newswatch 16 they might be interested in building a new fire department on the land.