Friday, September 3, 2010

The End of Johnson City High School?

The building, I mean.  And not the current building, but the historic Johnson City High School building on Main Street, which has been called the NYPENN Trade Center for many years.

I know at least one person who was in the last graduating class, which I think (don't quote me on this) was in 1973.

NYPENN has memories for us.  My son took karate lessons there for many years.

Now this building is in serious danger of being closed down.  I'm not sure of its exact age but I wouldn't be surprised if the building is at least 80 years old.  I am always sad about the passing of old buildings, especially ones that were kept in ill repair.  After its career as a high school, the Trade Center was a low-rent alternative for a lot of small businesses, some of which would never have succeeded without its shelter.  One was Gil's Book Loft, which used to reside in downtown Binghamton.  It ended up moving to NYPENN when Gil's closed its retail operations and went strictly internet.  The co owner of Gils is a retired Binghamton librarian, a wonderful person.  Where will they go?  Where will anyone go?

Now it will be just another vacant building on the fringes of downtown Johnson City.

Another, as they say, nail in the coffin of what used to be a thriving village.  Even the Johnson City Field Days, which start tonight and end with the traditional Labor Day fireworks on Monday night, won't be enough to brighten the village this weekend.

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