WEATHERLY -- Some people are trying to save a 115-year-old school building in Carbon County.
The Mrs. C.M. Schwabs School was built in Weatherly as a lover's gift, and people are hoping that the community's love for the building will help it stay there.
The old school closed in 1991. It was sold to someone who just let it sit and deteriorate for the last 25 years. It recently changed hands, and now there is an effort for one more sale--back to the borough where some say the school belongs.
The building is not only the place where many in Weatherly went to school and not just a visual focal point in the borough, but it's a standing reminder of one of the greatest love stories known in Weatherly. It’s one that some hope to preserve.
“A local girl married Charles Schwab. They moved away and came back 18 years later. The town gave them such a big reception that Mr. Schwab said, ‘I want to give you a gift. You gave me such an excellent wife, I want to give you a gift back,’" said Weatherly Mayor Tom Connors.
The wealthy president of Bethlehem Steel Company, Charles M. Schwab gave the borough $50,000 to build the school, another $25,000 for the clock on top, and named it after the love of his life.
But after a newer handicap accessible school was built in the ‘90s, this one closed and was sold.
"People do want it back and it touches their hearts every time they pass it," Connors said.
Now, there are fears the school could be demolished if the borough doesn't buy it back, and more than a century of memories will be gone.
The mayor has had contractors come in, willing to donate the time to repair the old school. Many of the alumnae say they are willing to donate the money to buy it back.
Joanne Craig and Jeanette Muschlite graduated from the high school in the 1960s and hope an initiative will be approved for people to raise money and buy back the building for the borough.
"I hope they do renovate it. I really do. It would be a shame to not have it here because of going here so many years," said Joanne Craig, class of 1967.
"We shouldn't let it go. I hope the council tonight decides to take it over and renovate it for whatever purpose. It's a landmark," said Jeanette Muschlite, class of 1966.
A meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Weatherly's borough building.
Council will meet with the mayor and people in the community to vote on either allowing or shutting down a fundraising initiative to buy the building back.
