St. Wendelin school demolition begins today

The former St. Wendelin High School building, a fixture at 533 N. Countyline St., in Fostoria for more than 100 years, will be no more. Destined for demolition since the Community Improvement Corporation of Fostoria purchased it in June from the St. Wendelin Parish and Toledo Diocese, the building, was scheduled to be hit by wrecking equipment today, Community Improvement Corporation President Renee Smith reported Monday.Machinery from ALL Excavating and Demolition of McComb was parked Monday at the rear of the building, where a company representative said the work would begin."It really is the end of an era," said Ed Logsdon, a St. Wendelin graduate who is now a local businessman and city council member.The Community Improvement Corporation bought the property to take away a deteriorating structure and, hopefully, find a source of revitalization.The building stood since 1909, and the Catholic school's first graduation class, in 1910, consisted of one student. Enrollment grew and peaked in 1973, with a graduating class of 97 that included Logsdon. But as industry shutdowns caused the city's population to drop and the school's enrollment to do likewise, finances plummeted to where the school closed in 2017."It is about as sad as it gets," Roger Holman, a St. Wendelin graduate who would become a teacher, guidance counselor and basketball coach during two stints at the school, said of the demolition. "It's just a shame that the city's population has gone down and we're unable to keep a Catholic school going. I was in hope all along that there would be something to at least go in the building that would be beneficial. But with all the regulations and stuff, I guess, it just didn't work out."In a June press release, the Very Rev. Joseph Poggemeyer, pastor of the parish, was quoted as saying: "After potential opportunities for the property did not come to fruition, I was grateful to begin conversations with the Community Improvement Corporation. I firmly believe that the Community Improvement Corporation is best positioned to develop and market, the property for the good of the community. I am hopeful that the property will again become something that the community can be proud of."Smith said in June that parts of the building were to be preserved for future use."There's a lot of history and it's sad that it's happening," Logsdon said of the demolition. "I wish there way they could save a part of it. But I don't know the feasibility, given the age of the building and things like that." The ALL representative said the demolition project would take about three weeks.Smith said in June that the CIC would be working with a consulting firm in regard to the future of the property."It is what it is right now," Holman said. "There's no turning back, obviously. I wish it would be happening way later. But, you know, life goes on. Life changes. I just hope, eventually, there's something there that benefits the community. That would be great."