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A rural school on the Missouri-Kansas border is facing the threat of demolition. One local woman who attended the two-room school more than 50 years ago is determined to save it. KSMU’s Adam Murphy reports.
According to Carolyn McLean, many people in the area have fond memories of Union Chapel School, like her memory of the pie suppers.
“And they’d have the pie suppers where the girls would bake the pies and then the boy who was sweet on the girl, he would buy the pie. And some of my family lived back here in the middle 30’s; her brothers would bid up the pie so the boy would have to pay more for the pie to get to sit with her to eat it,” said McClean.
Just a few days ago, she learned that the owners of the property in Galena, Kansas where Union Chapel School sits want the Galena Fire Department to burn the building down. McLean says the owners are concerned about the potential liability of the building, which is run down.
The school was built in 1878 and the last time it was used as a school was in 1966. McLean says community members who went to the school still gather for monthly dinners.
“I mean this school is a landmark. If it got burned down it would be absolutely horrible,” she said.
McLean says she is looking for donations from community members, businesses, alumni of the school, or anyone interested in saving the school. She says she is planning on setting up a way for people to donate through a bank in Galena. McLean says she is willing to move the building, or purchase the ground underneath the school, whatever it takes to save the school.
More information and pictures are available on the Union Chapel School/Community facebook group. Anyone who would like to help in the effort can reach Carolyn McClean at (417) 438-9771 or grams123@wildblue.net.
For KSMU News, I’m Adam Murphy.