The State Building Commission appears unable to give away the historic school built by World War I hero, Sgt. Alvin C. York.
The Fentress County Commission unanimously rejected an offer from the state last night that would have handed over ownership of the dilapidated two-story school. The state even offered 500-thousand dollars for shoring up the crumbling structure.
County executive John Mullinix says the potential costs of rehabbing the original York Institute building were too much of an unknown. And, he says, it shouldn’t be something the county has to pay for anyway.
“If your house needs renovating, I can’t come over and renovate it for you. And that’s kind of what they’re asking. That building is the state’s responsibility.”
There’s an ongoing effort to raise money privately. Mullinix says he hopes York’s family members will be able to save the school building. But the State Building Commission appears to be heading toward demolition by the fall, before students return to the more modern classrooms nearby.
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