Crews demolish high school damaged by Newnan tornado more than a year ago

COWETA COUNTY, Ga — What mother nature started, demolition crews are finishing this week in Newnan. They’re tearing down a half dozen buildings at the high school damaged in the EF-4 tornado that hit the Coweta County community in March 2021.

Tuesday, demolition continued on the main building along La Grange Street that was built in 1950. “That building is Newnan High School,” said Coweta County School Superintendent Evan Horton. “It’s sad to see it come down, but there’s also a lot of progress and opportunity here.”

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While classes are scheduled to continue the next two years in the remaining buildings on campus, construction will start on the new Newnan High School main building that will pay homage to the old building, even using some repurposed bricks and limestone they’re salvaging from the demolition.

Many former students and community members have been stopping by to watch the progress, take photos and remember their days at NHS. “You see what damage was done, but see what’s coming back and the resiliency of this community, and it’s very important,” said 1980 grad Kelly Adams.

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Students in grades 10th through 12th grade will still use the campus in the fall like they did in the last school year. The school is squeezing into a few existing buildings that could be saved, as well as mobile classrooms.

Demolition crews started two weeks ago by tearing down about a half dozen smaller buildings, including the old gymnasium. “When they came down, (you) don’t think it had as much of an emotional pull. But when you see the main building and see the letters come off the front, … you know it’s getting pretty significant,” said Principal Chase Puckett.

The new facility will also have something the old school did not — a tornado shelter in the new lower 3rd level. The goal is to open the new Newnan High School in August 2024.

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