CARBONDALE, IL — Community members came together to support the Carbondale Community High School Education Foundation and purchased salvaged bricks from the recently demolished 101-year-old CCHS building.
Due to overwhelming interest in the first event last weekend, organizers held a second fundraiser on Saturday, October 26th.
Bricks from the old school were sold for a new ‘memorial scholarship’.
Carbondale resident Shari Garnett, who attended to purchase a brick as a keepsake for her family, reflected on the sentimental value of the event. “This high school and this building were very important to my mother and sister who attended here,” she said. “This is a way for them to hold on to some of their memories.”
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The first fundraiser raised more than $2,300 for the CCHS Educational Foundation, which supports educational programs and scholarships. Building bricks were available for $10 for the first brick and $5 for each additional brick. Funds from this event will go toward memorial scholarships to benefit CCHS students planning to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
“It’s about holding on to those relationships and memories,” said co-organizer Dawn Roberts, who spearheaded the event. “This building touched more than 20,000 lives. It’s great to see people come out and share their memories and support scholarships.”
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Garnett said how deeply ingrained the school’s traditions are for her family. Her mother, who graduated from CCHS in 1960, remains in close contact with her former classmates. “They meet every month, and every time they connect, it feels like they’re reliving a part of their youth together,” Garnett said.
Although few physical reminders of the building remain, Roberts said, “It’s a little surreal. This building was a home for so many people, and its absence will be felt.” . She wants the city to mark the former school site as a site for future gatherings and memorials.
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The CCHS Education Foundation encourages the community to participate in and support local education. More information can be found on the event Facebook page and in the CCHS Education Foundation Facebook group.
