Vault: Historic Junior High Building Burns

Historic landmark filled with memories destroyed by fire

Originally printed in The Centreville Press on December 24, 2008, appearing for the first time on Bibblogger.

By Deborah Martin

Bibb County Jr. High School, built January 1909, was tragically destroyed by fire December 17, 2008. Nearly 100-year-old of history, learning, and many memories, was completely consumed by fire in less than 5 hours. In a matter of hours the historical building, made mostly of pine, was a gutted shell.

The building had been undergoing a $70,000 budgeted renovation at the time of the fire and work had been underway for about a month. The Board of Education had planned to use the building for their new administrative offices due to the extra space it was to provide and the history the building signified.  

At approximately 1:00 p.m., smoke was seen billowing heavily from the top of the Bibb County Jr. High School’s steeple. A few people were working on the first floor when the fire officially started. As soon as the employees realized the building was on fire, they quickly exited to safety. Before the fire had gotten completely out of control, computers and file cabinets were removed from the building as quickly as possible. Because of the drizzling rain, the equipment and files cabinets were placed into law enforcement vehicles for protection. 

Centreville Police Chief Mike Nichols placed the call to dispatch at approximately 1:45 p.m. Brent and Centreville Fire Department’s arrived quickly and soon other surrounding fire fighters from various county fire departments arrived to help. All fire fighters at the scene fought hard to save the old school but soon realized the building was lost. There were 16 fire trucks on the scene.

One of the problems of fighting the fire was the water pressure. This issue is being addressed now.

The streets were blocked for hours as the fire departments fought the flames. Many were being rerouted who were trying to get to their destination. As the spectators watched the futile attempt at saving the building, they began to realize hope was gone in saving any part of the building and all anyone could do now was to watch in disbelief and deep sadness of this tremendous loss to their county. Many individuals were sadly remembering attending this school themselves and many were remembering that their own parents and grandparents had attended this 100-year-old school.

Brent Fire Chief Jerry Pow stated he thought the cause of the fire may have been faulty wiring from within the attic area. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Bibb County Superintendent Don Elam later stated there had been plans to restore the school’s original flooring and had wanted to display historical items throughout the building so the planned offices would be a source of community pride.

Elam stated some of the bricks would be harvested and used in various places. He also said there were no plans to rebuild at this time. The building was insured.

County fire fighters are all volunteer firemen. Each man has his or her regular paying job. When a call comes in that a fire is underway, each man has to be notified of the fire in progress and the firemen leave their regular daily jobs, quickly race to the fire department, and suit up, jump into the fire truck and then rush to the scene.

Brent Fire Chief Jerry Pow would like to thank the following fire departments for their help with the fire: Eoline, Greenpond, Brent, Centreville, Montevallo, Cedar Grove, Brierfield, Lawley and Pine Tuckey Fire Departments. Pow stated that Brent and Centreville Police Department, Bibb County Sheriff’s Department and Alabama State Fire Marshall’s Office are to be commended on their way of handling the traffic and by standers.

 Photos:  Firefighters, community members, and others look on as the historic Bibb County Junior High building is engulfed in flames.  Photos by Deborah Martin.  Top right photo is an award winning photograph by Deborah Martin for 1st place "Best News Photograph' at the 2009 Tribb Publications Awards Banquet in Warm Springs, Georgia.