Up in flames, former Union Elementary School building burned

Dec. 02, 2012 @ 06:03 AM

Rick Crider

Rick Crider

Fire and smoke billows from the doors and windows of the old Union School building on Old Pageland-Monroe Road Saturday morning. The former school facility, now owned by South Union Athletic Association, had fallen into severe disrepair over the years. Allens Crossroads VFD burned the front building at the request of the owners.

Charcoal drawing of the building that was built in 1926. The section burned Saturday sat to the right of this building, which was demolished years ago.

Rick Crider

Functional obsolescense, abandonment, weather and vandals had all taken their toll on the old Union Elementary school, formerly Union High School, on Old Pageland-Monroe Road. Now in private ownership, the facility had become a health and safety concern and was burned by Allen's Crossroads VFD Saturday morning.

Rick Crider

Allens Crossroads VFD founding member, Tom Baker, left, prepares to light wheat straw soaked with diesel fuel in one of the old abandoned classrooms that still has bulletin boards on one wall, with coat hooks and cubby shelves on the other.

Rick Crider

Wheat straw, a little diesel fuel and a propane torch make easy work of rapid ignition. Within a couple hours the entire structure is on the ground.

Rick Crider

An Allens Crossroads firefighter retreats to safety after lighting the final section of the building for Saturday's controlled burn.

Rick Crider

Tom Baker, a charter member of Allens Crossroads VFD, monitors the progress of his team, making sure all personnel are accounted for as they begin the controlled burn of the old school facility Saturday morning.

Rick Crider

The roaring fire rolls out an open hallway door, reaching the roof from the inside as well as exterior. Minutes after this photo was taken the roof ventilated and burst into flames as it caved inward.

Rick Crider

The facade wall facing Old Pageland-Monroe Road rolls out with flames within minutes of the interior ignition.

Union school, Allens Crossroads firefighters

Rick Crider

Not using it for fire training due to the condition of the flooring structure, Allens Crossroads firefighters stood by to monitor the burn for safety and keep it from spreading from the target area.

Rick Crider

Firefighters use a deck mounted deluge gun on Engine 24 to bring down teetering walls after support members have burned away.

Rick Crider

A newer, two-story section, not attached to Saturday's burn target, still stands toward the rear of the property.

Union School, remaining building, interior

Rick Crider

A ground-floor section of a remaining building shows weather damage, but appears to retain its structural integrity. The property was last used by the school system in the late 1980's, just prior to moving students to the then newly built Union Elementary School, just a few miles away on White Store Road.

WINGATE —

To some, it was Union Elementary. To an older generation, it was Union High School, though the original, circa 1926 structure has been gone for decades. To the current owners and the surrounding community, it was a liability and an eyesore. Saturday, one of three remaining buildings, and the most deteriorated, of the former school property was burned at the request of the South Union Athletic Association.